May 19, 2021

This Elder Law Month Look Out for Your Older Friends, Family, and Neighbors

BY Rachel Shannon BrownDaily Hampshire Gazette

This May – which is both Older Americans Month and National Elder Law Month – Community Legal Aid seeks to raise awareness of issues facing elders. Thanks to support from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and Title III of the Federal Older Americans Act, Community Legal Aid provides free services to vulnerable persons age 60 and older who have civil legal problems.

As noted in the White House’s 2021 Proclamation on Older Americans Month, the “COVID-19 pandemic has imposed tremendous hardships on our Nation’s older Americans.  Older adults — particularly those from communities of color — have comprised the majority of deaths from COVID-19, with more than 80 percent of all deaths to date occurring in persons 65 and older.  Many older Americans have also suffered extreme social isolation from being separated from friends, family, and community resources throughout the pandemic.”

In addition to the hardships noted above, the pandemic has brought with it a scourge of scammers who seek to take advantage of the fears of older, trusting adults.  Some have tried to sell fake cures, vaccines, and unproven treatments.  Others have tried to steal economic impact payments, solicit donations for charities that do not exist, or get access to seniors’ Social Security benefits.  Still others have tried to appropriate bank account and/or credit card information while posing as health officials engaged in contact tracing efforts.

Even without the isolation and abuses caused by the pandemic, too often our elderly neighbors are unaware of the stabilizing relief and benefits to which they are entitled, be it Social Security, Medicare, SNAP (Food Stamps), or fuel assistance.  In addition, they may be wrongly denied access to affordable housing.  Some are victims of abuse in their homes.  And those who are aware of their options are often unable to navigate the complex bureaucratic systems of applying for, obtaining, or maintaining their rights without an attorney.

At the core of Community Legal Aid’s mission is the belief in equal justice for all.  We provide free civil legal services to the low-income and elderly residents of the five counties of Western and Central Massachusetts, and maintain offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield.  CLA works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families.  This Older Americans Month and National Elder Law Month, we ask that you look out for your friends, family, and neighbors, and make sure that our community members age 60 and older can get access to the services they need.

Elder Abuse can be reported by calling the Massachusetts Elder Abuse Hotline at (800) 922-2275.  Scams should be reported to the Massachusetts Attorney Genera’s office Consumer Hotline at (617) 727-8400 or to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.  Seniors can get connected with their local elder services agency by calling (800) 243-4636. And, should civil legal assistance be needed, Community Legal Aid is ready and waiting at www.communitylegal.org.