LAS Launches Elder Law Program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. May 26, 2015—Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm, announced today it has received a $40,000 grant from The Memorial Foundation to launch an Elder Law Program in parts of the region.

The new Elder Law Program will provide ongoing legal and educational services for seniors residing in Davidson, Cheatham, Sumner and Robertson counties. As part of the program, Legal Aid Society staff will present community seminars to empower seniors and their caretakers by addressing common legal issues faced by the elderly, as well as educating them on their rights and responsibilities. The Elder Law Program will also provide free civil legal services to qualified seniors.

In particular, Legal Aid Society’s Elder Law Program will focus on three core issues identified as vulnerable areas for seniors:

  • Long Term Care Matters: Medicaid, Medicare and other health care coverage problems, nursing home care issues and health benefit appeals
  • Preserving Dignity: Power of Attorney documents for financial and medical decisions, advanced health care directives, conservatorships and surrogate decision making
  • Financial Empowerment: Social Security issues and consumer issues, including debt, financial exploitation and consumer scams on the elderly

“The population of persons 60 years and older is expected to grow to 22.6 percent of the total population of Tennessee by 2020, and many of them are faced with legal issues they’ve never before encountered,” said Gary Housepian, executive director of Legal Aid Society. “Through our new Elder Law Program, we’ll be better able to reach out and educate seniors in our region on their rights and provide them with legal assistance that is critical for personal health and overall well-being. We’re grateful to The Memorial Foundation for making this possible.”

Legal Aid Society advocates for fairness and justice under the law for everyone, no matter a person’s ability to pay. The organization offers free civil legal advice, educational programs and representation to ensure all people in its region are able to protect their livelihoods, their health and their families. It serves 48 counties from offices in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma. Legal Aid Society is funded in part by United Way. Learn more at www.las.org.

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