Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation

In this special episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: A Conversation, we step away from our usual focus on elder law to explore a different kind of conversation: what it takes to lead a nonprofit organization today and what CALO can do to foster better outcomes for those nonprofit organizations.   Our guest is Dikla Cohen Michaeli, CEO of Calo, brings over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit wo...

Scams are becoming more sophisticated, more personalized, and more difficult to detect.   In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Dr. Ariana Mirian, PhD, co-founder of BeeSafe AI and researcher specializing in human-centered cybersecurity, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming fraud and scams. From pig butchering scams to highly p...

For over three decades, Paul Downey has been one of the leading voices for older adults in San Diego County. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Paul Downey, former CEO of Serving Seniors and now Chief Advocacy Officer at the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, to discuss his career journey, the growing challenges facing low-income older a...

Navigating tax issues can be overwhelming, especially for low-income individuals and families facing financial hardship. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Shahin Rahimi, Senior Managing Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, to discuss his work helping vulnerable communities resolve tax disputes and access critical legal support. Sh...

Staying on top of legislation is critical to protecting older adults and consumers, but it is not easy to do so.   In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with attorney Caleb Logan to discuss his experience with California legislation and his creation of a new bill-tracking platform featured on the Elder Law & Advocacy website.   Caleb has spent ye...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people access information, including legal guidance. But as AI becomes more integrated into everyday decision-making, it raises serious ethical and legal questions, especially for attorneys. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Caleb Logan to explore the growing role of AI in law and the ethical c...

Elder financial abuse is rising, and many cases go undetected until it’s too late. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine speaks with Caleb Logan to explore his experience litigating Elder Financial Abuse cases. Caleb breaks down how these cases typically unfold, and what is generally possible if it comes to litigation. The conversation also dives into what ban...

Abuse cases - whether domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse - require more than just prosecution. They require coordinated, compassionate support for victims. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Caleb sits down with Claudia Grasso, Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and Executive Director of One Safe Place, the North Co...

Cryptocurrency fraud is one of the fastest-growing threats today, and scammers are targeting vulnerable older adults. In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Chris Groshong, Certified Fraud Investigator and founder of the Crypto Recovery Alliance, to break down how crypto scams work, why they are so difficult to trace, and what victims and familie...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, host Jaime Levine sits down with Scott Pirrello, Head of Elder Abuse Prosecution at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and a leading national expert on elder fraud and scams. Pirrello is at the forefront of the fight against elder abuse, spearheading efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes targeting older adults. As a...

In the newest episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jenna MacRae speaks with Madison Kovall about the programs and legal services offered by Elder Law & Advocacy and how they support older adults across San Diego County. The conversation explores how EL&A helps older adults navigate a wide range of legal challenges, including public benefits issues, landlord-tenant dispute...

In the newest episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jenna MacRae sits down with Amanda Jane Austin, Staff Attorney and Legal Volunteer Coordinator at Elder Law & Advocacy. Amanda shares her journey from working as a Barrister for the UK government to advocating for older adults in San Diego. She also discusses how volunteers and interns play a critical role in expanding legal...

What does elder law look like in Imperial County and throughout rural California? In this episode, Jaime Levine sits down with Alan Azevedo-McCaffrey, Staff Attorney at Elder Law & Advocacy, to share what it’s really like working directly with seniors in rural communities where access to legal help can be limited. Alan discusses the unique challenges older adults face in places like Imperial C...

Tune in as staff attorneys David Schwartz and Madison Kovall discuss conservatorship, planning ahead, and how legal support can help older adults and their families navigate complex decisions together. David explores what a conservatorship is, how a conservator is legally selected, and the difference between medical and financial conservatorships. The conversation also highlights how advance plann...

We’re joined by Ann Vu, Volunteer Attorney with Elder Law & Advocacy, for an in-depth conversation on senior debt negotiation, elder rights, and language access in legal services. Ann shares her experience working with Spanish-speaking seniors, highlighting why culturally competent support and strong translation processes are essential to understanding clients’ stories, protecting their rights...

Attorneys Caleb Logan and Jaime Levine continue their conversation by deep diving into the real stories behind the cases shaping senior protections in California in 2026. Through detailed case breakdowns, they explore how moments of elder abuse, financial exploitation, and legal injustice become turning points that drive change in the law. This episode takes listeners deep into key 2025 cases, unp...

Tune in as attorneys Caleb Logan and Jaime Levine break down key California legislation enacted in 2025 that is already shaping how seniors are being legally protected in 2026 and beyond. They discuss new and existing laws designed to prevent elder abuse and financial exploitation, how recent legal changes impact senior clients and their communities, and the growing role of advocacy organizations...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, host David Shwartz, attorney at Elder Law & Advocacy, is joined by Madison Kovall, a San Diego–based tenant rights attorney, to unpack an important San Diego City ordinance that changes how utility fees are regulated in rental housing - and what those changes mean for senior tenants. Together, they explore how updates to local hous...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Bryan Devore joins the show to share his mission to improve the quality of life for older adults and help more seniors age safely and independently at home. Bryan serves as Board President of the San Diego Council on Aging, is a longtime Board Member of ElderHelp of San Diego, and leads the Senior Division at Berkshire Hathaway HomeSer...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Attorney Tony Chicotel shares his powerful journey as an advocate working to improve the quality of life in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care communities. Tony discusses the challenges residents face inside long-term care, the progress driven by legal advocacy and policy reform, and the critical work still need...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Attorney Ann Vue reflects on her two years of volunteering with Elder Law & Advocacy and the powerful impact of serving seniors in need. Ann shares what it’s like to work directly with vulnerable older adults, the challenges they face navigating legal issues, and why this work has become one of the most meaningful parts of her care...

In this episode, Attorney Andrew Thompson, a leading advocate for nursing home residents and their families, breaks down the realities of elder neglect, nursing home abuse, and the legal responsibilities long-term care facilities must uphold. Andrew explains how to recognize the early warning signs of neglect, what families should document, and the most common violations of elder care standards th...

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Elder Law & Advocacy Deputy Director and Attorney Jenna MacRae sits down with HICAP Attorney Chris Crowson, who reflects on his remarkable 35-year career serving older adults - 25 years with Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and 10 years in the legal services programs at Elder Law & Advocacy.    From guid...

In this premiere episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Executive Director and Supervising Attorney Jaime Levine sits down with Attorney Caleb Logan to uncover the realities of elder abuse, financial fraud, and senior scams affecting older adults today. Caleb shares insights from his experience litigating cases against nursing homes, banks, and fraudsters who target seniors, offeri...