Elder Law Month helps seniors explore options
“Where did Elder Law Month come from?”
In 1963, to raise awareness of the struggles that seniors faced and to honor senior citizens, President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens proclaimed May as Senior Citizens Month. Two years later, in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared May as Older Americans Month. Further, President Johnson passed the Older Americans Act of 1965 resulting in positive change, financial assistance, and federal support for older Americans.
Based on the foregoing, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) designated May as National Elder Law Month. During May, we not only recognize contributions of older adults, but we place special emphasis on our role as Elder Law Attorneys to educate seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families about their legal options, tools that can be utilized to meet their goals, and the importance of planning to improve quality of life. “What is Elder Law?”
Elder Law attorneys often hear, “You do wills, right?” Technically, yes. However, we do a lot more than just wills. Elder law is an area of practice focused on helping specific people – elders and individuals with special needs. This may involve planning for nursing home and long-term care, special needs, Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, and so on. Elder law attorneys help formalize plans so over time our clients wishes are upheld, assets are protected, care is made available, dignity is preserved, and independence is maintained to the greatest extent possible. Elder law attorneys are “holistic” planners taking into account many different factors that affect their client’s lives and well-being. “Who is Involved in Elder Law?”
Elder law involves developing a team. Picture the sun with the planets orbiting around it. Our clients are the sun, at the center, with their plan revolving around them. We surround our clients with team members such as their financial advisor, banker, accountant, health care providers, and almost always, family. Team members are the planets, supporting and orbiting around the sun. Coordinating an individual’s plan that takes into account long-term care planning, medical complexities, psycho-social needs, financial planning, tax issues, and family dynamics can sometimes seem as complex as the solar system. The ability to navigate that solar system and provide support through compassion, patience, and understanding, along with having a working knowledge of and hands-on experience with elder issues and resources is what we, as elder law attorneys, bring to the table.
“How Can I Participate in Elder Law Month?”
First, thank you for reading this – you just participated in Elder Law Month! If you want to do more, one of the most meaningful things you can do is reach out to family members, contact seniors, and share with friends about the need for early discussion and holistic planning. Encourage and help them to create a vision and a plan to protect their dignity, independence, and well-being as soon as possible. The earlier we start the process, the more likely we are to have the best outcomes.
