Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation

Choosing a nursing home or residential care facility for a loved one is one of the hardest decisions a family will ever face, and knowing your rights once they're there can feel even harder. 

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, host Jaime Levine and Elder Law Attorney Andrew Thompson sit down with Kristin Rigsbee, Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman's Office, to break down what long term care really looks like in California and how an Ombudsman can help residents navigate complex challenges that arise.

Kristin brings a rare, layered perspective - with 20 years as a long-term care case manager overseeing memory care and assisted living units, prior experience working for an Elder Law attorney, and 12 years serving as an Ombudsman.

She explains what an Ombudsman actually does - a dedicated advocate whose sole purpose is to represent the resident, not the facility, helping families and residents navigate concerns, understand their options, and get the care they truly need.

Whether you're currently searching for a facility, navigating a difficult transition, or simply want to understand your rights (or a loved one's rights) in long-term care, this conversation offers grounded, real-world guidance you won't want to miss.

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 personalized trust-based schemes, scammers are leveraging AI and new technologies to create more convincing attacks than ever before. As these tactics evolve, traditional warning signs and cybersecurity advice must evolve as well.

Dr. Mirian shares insights from her research on how scammers build trust over time, why modern fraud schemes are so effective, and the practical cybersecurity strategies individuals can use to better protect themselves. The conversation also explores the growing impact of AI on fraud prevention, online safety, consumer protection, and digital trust.

If you're interested in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fraud prevention, or protecting yourself and your loved ones from online scams, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

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 adults, and the future of senior services in San Diego.

Paul helped transform Serving Seniors into a nationally recognized organization supporting older adults through affordable housing, daily meals, healthcare access, case management, and social support services. Today, the organization delivers more than 1.5 million meals annually and operates more than 500 units of affordable senior housing across San Diego County.

The conversation explores affordable senior housing, nonprofit leadership, and what it takes to keep vulnerable seniors healthy, independent, and connected to their communities.

Paul reflects on his own journey from broadcast journalism into nonprofit leadership, and the mission that has driven his work advocating for older adults for more than 30 years.

If you are interested in senior care, affordable housing, aging services, or nonprofit leadership, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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.

Shahin leads the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) assisting clients with IRS debt, tax controversies, and other financial legal challenges. He shares how his immigrant background, professional mentorship, and passion for public service ultimately led him to a career in nonprofit law.

Together, they explore the realities facing low-income taxpayers, the importance of legal aid services, and how advocacy can help individuals regain financial stability and access justice.

If you are interested in legal aid, tax law, consumer advocacy, or community-focused legal work, this episode offers valuable insight into the impact of public interest law in San Diego.

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 considerations that come with it.

Caleb brings a unique perspective to this conversation. With a background in electrical engineering and a career in public interest law, he has worked on legislative initiatives designed to protect consumers and older adults, and has litigated cases involving elder abuse and nursing home rights. His work places him at the intersection of technology, law, and ethics.

Together, they discuss how AI is influencing legal practice, the risks of relying on AI for legal information, and the responsibility attorneys face as this technology continues to evolve.

If you are an attorney, legal professional, or simply interested in how AI is reshaping the legal landscape, this is a timely and important conversation.

Listen now to better understand the ethical challenges of AI in law.

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 bank safeguards are currently in place and what better policy or legislation might look like.

They discuss the challenges victims face in pursuing legal action, the broad nature of existing laws, and how attorneys approach litigation in these cases. From common fact patterns to systemic gaps, this episode provides a clear look at what elder financial abuse cases really involve.

If you are an attorney, fiduciary, financial professional, or someone working with older adults, this episode offers valuable insight into identifying, preventing, and addressing financial exploitation.

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 County Family Justice Center.

Claudia has spent much of her career prosecuting cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. Driven by a vision to better support victims, her career brought her to a position as Executive Director of One Safe Place - a center designed to provide comprehensive, wraparound services for individuals and families impacted by abuse.

In this conversation, Claudia shares her journey from prosecutor to advocate, the mission behind One Safe Place, and how this innovative model brings together legal, social, and support services under one roof to help victims heal and rebuild.

We also explore the realities of abuse cases, the importance of victim-centered care, and how communities can better support those affected.

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 families can do after funds are stolen.

Chris specializes in cryptocurrency fraud investigations, including cases involving elder financial abuse and large-scale scams. Through his nonprofit, he plans to help families impacted by crypto fraud recover lost assets and to advocate for stronger protections in this rapidly evolving space.

In this conversation, we explore how crypto scams target victims and move money quickly, why cryptocurrency has become a major tool in financial fraud, and the challenges of investigating and recovering stolen funds. Chris also shares what families, professionals, and caregivers should watch for, and what victims can do if they have been targeted.

If you work with older adults, manage financial risk, or want to better understand crypto fraud and scam prevention, this episode is essential listening.