Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are on the increase with the aging of America. Unfortunately, there can be an intersection between this chronic condition and Arizona’s lawyers and judges that calls for added knowledge about dementia and what to do when various scenarios present. This session will review common symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Action steps for diagnosis, treatment and support will be outlined. Participants will review hypothetical situations and discuss possible solutions.
Jan Dougherty is a Special Projects Consultant at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a known expert and leader in crafting innovative programs to support people living with dementia and their family caregivers. As the former Director of Family & Community Services at BAI, she designed a new standard of care while also directing the Native American Outreach Program. This included raising awareness about dementia, evaluating culturally sensitive cognitive assessment, brining novel brain health programs, and identifying health disparities among Southwest tribes. Obtaining grant funding of over $3.5 million, Jan has pioneered unique dementia programs being used in Arizona, nationally and internationally. These programs include Dementia Care Paths and Best Practices for Dementia Care Management; Hospice Care for Dementia; and Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia. Most recently, Jan is leading the efforts in helping Tempe, Arizona to become the first “Dementia Friendly Community” in the state. These innovations have resulted in major changes in care practices.
Lisa M. Panahi is General Counsel for the State Bar of Arizona. Prior to her position as General Counsel, Lisa served as Senior Ethics Counsel at the Bar, where she advised lawyers on compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, and regularly presented at continuing-legal-education seminars. Lisa is a member of the Arizona Supreme Court’s Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee, staff counsel to the State Bar Board of Governors’ Rules Review Committee, and a member of the American Bar Association’s Center for Professional Responsibility. She received both her undergraduate degree and law degree from Arizona State University. During law school, she served as an extern for the Hon. Lawrence O. Anderson (Ret.) (United States District Court for the District of Arizona), and immediately following law school, worked as a public defender for the City of Tucson. Prior to working for the State Bar, Lisa was in private practice as a partner with Heurlin Sherlock Panahi P.C., and focused primarily in business and real estate transactions and volunteer mediation.
Judge Louraine C. Arkfeld retired from the bench after twenty-six years. She served as the Presiding Judge for the Tempe Municipal Court from February 1994 until June 2010. Previously, Judge Arkfeld served as a judge in the Phoenix Municipal Court for ten years, including as Assistant Presiding Judge from 1989 to 1994. Judge Arkfeld sat on the Arizona Judicial Council and served as Chair of the Court Leadership Institute. She also served on the Commission on Judicial Conduct including being its Vice-Chair. She is a certified instructor for ICM courses in Fundamentals of Caseflow Management, Purposes and Responsibilities of Courts and Visioning and Strategic Planning. She has served as the Judicial Member of the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors, Chair of the ABA Judicial Division, Chair of the ABA Commission on the American Jury Project and Chair of the ABA Senior Lawyers Division and on the Council for the ABA Section of International Law. She currently serves on the ABA Judicial Advisory Committee to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. She is currently a member of the Tempe Dementia-Friendly Action Team and trained as a Dementia Friendly Champion. Judge Arkfeld served on the Arizona Supreme Court Commission on Technology from 1990-2009, including as chair from 1997 to 2000. Judge Arkfeld has served on numerous other committees and commissions and is a past president of the Arizona Magistrates Association. In 2005 Judge Arkfeld received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, presented by the National Center for State Courts. Judge Arkfeld holds a B.S. in Business and a J.D. from Arizona State University.
*The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1.0 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 0 hour(s) of professional responsibility.