Professionals

Professional Services

Capacity Evaluation

Karin is experienced in evaluating the ability of older adults to make appropriate decisions and to manage their own affairs regarding health care, finances, and independent living.

Karin has evaluated capacity in hundreds of client cases. She has testified at court proceedings for guardianship of person and/or estate, in state administra

Karin is experienced in evaluating the ability of older adults to make appropriate decisions and to manage their own affairs regarding health care, finances, and independent living.

Karin has evaluated capacity in hundreds of client cases. She has testified at court proceedings for guardianship of person and/or estate, in state administrative hearings, and in criminal trials. Her testimony has contributed to guilty verdicts on aggravated charges and longer sentences in criminal elder financial exploitation cases.

Karin has conducted capacity assessments for various agencies as well as evaluations of client's capacity in questions of guardianship change or termination.

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Case Consultation

Capacity Evaluation

As a geriatric mental health specialist, Karin provides special population consultations to mental health agencies, doctors and clinics, senior services organizations, attorneys, and care management agencies.

Consultations can be provided in-office or by phone, and can be scheduled on a regular basis or as needed.

Based on client case pre

Consultations can be provided in-office or by phone, and can be scheduled on a regular basis or as needed.

Based on client case presentation and discussion, recommendations are made for methods of further assessment, intervention strategies, linkage with community resources, and additional ways to coordinate care for clients.

A consult client said:
"Thank you so much for all of your help and additional information."

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Organization/Program Consultation

With experience in management consulting and various care settings, Karin provides specialized guidance and advice to leaders of clinical practices, care management groups, guardianship agencies, and aging services organizations. Focus areas have included work processes, documentation standards, ethics questions, personnel issues, busine

Consultations can be provided in-office or by phone or video, and can be scheduled on a regular basis or as needed.

Consult clients have said:

"I really appreciate having an ear to talk these things through. Your advice has helped me manage difficult issues and to make hard choices easier."
"Everyone appreciated [x] reports at the trust meetings."

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Custom Training

Organization/Program Consultation

Karin constantly seeks training for herself and enjoys teaching and training others.

Training audiences have included clinics, community mental health agencies,
senior care service providers,
adult family homes, dementia care units, and assisted living facilities.

Karin has provided education for the King County and Washington State Bar

Karin constantly seeks training for herself and enjoys teaching and training others.

Training audiences have included clinics, community mental health agencies,
senior care service providers,
adult family homes, dementia care units, and assisted living facilities.

Karin has provided education for the King County and Washington State Bar Associations, the Guardian Ad Litem program, Adult Protective Services, and Seattle/King County Aging & Disability Services. She also often presents at community organizations and public events on a variety of topics.

An agency manager said:
"You did a fantastic job yesterday and it was a great meeting."

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Past Presentations and Publications

SELECTED CONFERENCE / EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS (with CEU accreditation)

Decision making capacity assessment professional training program (2026, cohort 3). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA, NASW, ALCA).
Cognitive testing and other assessment tools (2026). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA, NASW, ALCA).
Understanding different types of dementia (2026). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA, NASW, ALCA).
Decision making capacity assessment professional training program (2025, cohorts 1 and 2). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA, NASW).
Decision making capacity in older adults and how it is assessed (2024). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA).
Assessing decisional capacity in older adults: cognitive testing and other assessment tools (2024). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA).
Decision making capacity in older adults: an in-depth look at assessments with case studies (2024). Clinical training under Elder Education Institute (WMHCA).
Cognition and decision making capacity (2022). Presentation for Elder Abuse Council of Seattle/King County.
Mental health and older adults: considerations for fiduciaries and daily money managers (2022). Education for American Association of Daily Money Managers, Washington Chapter.
Mental health and older adults: considerations for placement specialists (2021). Education for Association of Senior Referral Specialists of Washington.
Red flags: recognizing signs of elder abuse and exploitation (2019). ACCS / With A Little Help (NASW).
Moving Verna: a case study of the value of relationships at the micro and macro level (2018). ACCS / With A Little Help (NASW).
Older adults: mood, anxiety and other disorders (2018). Clinical training for Geriatric Mental Health Specialty, under Aging For Life (NASW).
Elder abuse: red flags and how to help (2018). Presentation for Home Care Association of Washington annual conference (DSHS).
Elder abuse: red flags and how to help (2018). CEU program sponsored by Enumclaw Senior Center and Farr Law Group.
Crisis intervention with older adults (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013). Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Self-care survival for senior service professionals (2017). Clinical training (WMHCA, DSHS, WACPG).
Advance care planning with older adults: exercises and tools (2017). Clinical training (WMHCA, DSHS, WACPG).
Depression, delirium and dementia (2017). Clinical training (WMHCA, DSHS).
Mental health issues in capacity and judgment (2017). Washington State Bar Association Elder Law Seminar (WSBA CLE).
Adjusting to transitions: ways professionals can help clients and families cope with and adjust to change (2017). CEU program for With A Little Help Community Provider breakfast.
Red flags for elder abuse (2016). With A Little Help Caregiver Conference.
Mood disorders in older adults (2016). Geriatric Mental Health Specialty class, under Creative Geriatric Services (WMHCA).
Red flags for elder abuse, with King County Prosecutor Page Ulrey (2015). Blooming with the Boomers Annual Conference.
Field guide to capacity for case managers (2015). Training for case management agency.
Clinical investigation considerations and interviewing skills, with Seattle Police Elder Abuse Detective Nadia Fiorini (2015). Training for Adult Protective Services.
Defining – and defying! – the dark days: depression, delirium, dementia (2015). Provider education for Eldernet Snohomish County.
Red flags for elder abuse and exploitation (2015). With A Little Help Caregivers Conference.
Overview of geriatric mental health assessment (2015). Training for private psychiatric hospital.
Mental health and neglect vs self-neglect: clinical considerations (2014). King County Bar Association: Washington State Title 11 Guardian Ad Litem Training.
Mental health considerations for care transitions (2014). Care Transitions Conference.
Neglect and self-neglect: clinical perspectives (2014). Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care Social Work Department (NASW).
Field guide to capacity for investigators (2014). Washington State Conference on Abuse of Elders and Adults with Disabilities.
Assessing cognition and memory (2014). Training for community mental health provider.
Community needs and market opportunities in older adult mental health services (2013). Private market analysis.
Mental health and neglect vs self-neglect: clinical considerations (2013). Washington State Conference on Abuse of Elders and Adults with Disabilities.

SELECTED COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC TALKS

Autonomy, anosognosia, and advocacy: Issues in aging and mental illness (2026). Community presentation at Voices for Change conference, Edmonds, WA.
Stages of dementia (2018). Community presentation sponsored by Aegis Callahan House, Shoreline.
Stages of dementia and caregiving challenges (2018). Community presentation sponsored by Aegis Gardens, Newcastle.
Considering a move: making decisions and handling transitions with dementia (2018). Community presentation sponsored by Merrill Gardens Burien.
Relationship changes in dementia and how to approach them successfully (2018). Community presentation sponsored by Aegis of Marymoor, Redmond.
Caregiving challenges: recognizing needs for help and support in stages of dementia (2018). Community presentation sponsored by Merrill Gardens Burien.
Depression, delirium and dementia (2017). Resident and community education program sponsored by Merrill Gardens Burien.
When to worry: signs to get help with aging (2017). Educational presentation at Keiro Northwest Caregiver Resource Fair.
Hoarding and psychological factors (2017, 2014). Presentation for Ingraham Baccalaureate Program.
Defining – and defying! – the dark days: depression, delirium, dementia (2014). Community Lunch Lecture for YMCA Mill Creek.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Mental health issues in capacity and judgment (2017). Elder Law Seminar Coursebook. Washington State Bar Association.
Cognitive capacity and consent (2016). Recorded interview with Elder Justice Initiative, available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySjImMbxyOY
Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (2016). Recorded interview with Elder Justice Initiative, available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwlSmj2rimY&t=63s
Building community for seniors in crisis (2016). National Council Magazine: 1:72. National Council of Behavioral Health.

Older Materials

Please note: These are older materials but I keep hearing from people who find them helpful, so they're still here.

Services for Professionals

Professional Services

Capacity Evaluation

Capacity Evaluation

Capacity Evaluation

Case Consultation

Capacity Evaluation

Capacity Evaluation

Organization/Program Consultation

Organization/Program Consultation

Organization/Program Consultation

Custom Training

Organization/Program Consultation

Organization/Program Consultation

Past Presentations and Publications

Older Materials

Helping Clients Adjust to Transitions