ElderCare Express Training Available to Help CPAs Better Serve Mature Clients.

• Position: Brief Article - Polling Data - Statistical Data Included

A recent survey commissioned by the AICPA found that 11% of small firm revenues was derived from services to individuals over age 65--not surprising since this is the fastest-growing demographic group in the nation. CPAs who wish to increase revenues by providing traditional financial services to this population as well as those practitioners who wish to offer an extensive array of ElderCare services to their clients can benefit from training designed to help them understand the unique needs of this market segment. Five ElderCare courses have been developed by AICPA/PDI in cooperation with the ElderCare Task Force to assist CPAs in serving the needs of mature clients. They are:

* Developing an ElderCare Practice. This course, written by the chairman of the ElderCare Task Force, serves as an introduction to CPA ElderCare Services. It was designed to help CPAs assess whether CPA ElderCare Services will fit well with their competencies and client base.

* ElderCare: The Medical and Psychosocial Issues of Aging. This course is a primer on the common physical, cognitive and emotional elements of the aging process. It was designed so that CPAs would be able to effectively communicate with their older clients and successfully work with health and allied professionals as part of an ElderCare engagement team.

* ElderCare: The Financial Issues of Aging provides an overview of the long-term care options available today -- there are many alternatives to the traditional "nursing home" -- as well as traditional and alternative financing options. After taking this course, CPAs will be ready to show their clients the obvious advantage to planning for these costs, rather than waiting until it happens.

* ElderCare: The Legal Issues of Aging. As an ElderCare practitioner, CPAs should understand the legal documents that clients should have in place in order to protect their interests in case of incapacity. After taking this course, CPAs will be able to assist clients in protecting their legal interests.

* ElderCare: Practice Management and Practice Development Issues was written by the AICPA/Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ElderCare Task Force specifically to provide practitioners with the solutions they need...