National Elder Law Month
May is National Elder Law Month, as designated by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), which seeks to serve the legal needs of older adults, people with special needs, and their families. May is also recognized as Older Americans Month and Aging Advocacy Day is on May 16. Through legal services and education, the attorneys at Christenson Johnson, LLC join with other NAELA members around the country to promote the independence, self-determination, and well-being of those who are elderly or disabled.
The attorneys of Christenson Johnson are active in statewide and national professional organizations and frequently participate in informational seminars for local senior and professional groups. Last month, Attorney Mark Johnson presented “Advance Planning” at the Madison Senior Center as part of the Aging Mastery Program®. Next month, the attorneys will participate in the Wisconsin NAELA UnProgram where they will discuss a wide range of Elder Law topics with their colleagues from across the state. Also, coming up this fall, they will attend the Legal Issues of the Aging Seminar by the State Bar of Wisconsin, where Attorney Johnson will co-present on supported decision making.
In addition, Attorneys Iris Christenson, Mark Johnson, Barbara Hughes, and Meghan Teigen provide the following services and learning opportunities:
- Legal services to clients for long-term care planning
- Advice and customized legal documents for clients’ estate planning
- Assistance with guardianships and protective placement
- Special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and supported decision making agreements
- Printed and online resources for clients and the general public
- Service on professional and community boards and committees related to helping elderly and disabled populations
Also, as part of our goal to offer information on various topics related to elder law, here are five helpful websites for learning more about different issues that senior citizens often face:
1. Oam.acl.gov—Older Americans Month strives to help individuals in wellness and community engagement. Learn more about how older Americans can “Engage at Every Age”.
2. Morningstar.com—this site offers numerous articles about investing and retirement planning.
3. Alz.org—The national Alzheimer’s Association site offers excellent resources for those diagnosed with dementia and their families.
4. USA.gov—the United States government offers many consumer-oriented publications, including the Consumer Action Handbook; see the Money and Taxes tab on the home page.
5. Gwaar.org—the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. offers information and events, including Aging Advocacy Day, to assist senior citizens and their advocates, with recent topics such as guardianship, protective placement, and supported decision making.
Note: The listed websites and their content are provided as information to readers. Christenson Johnson, LLC is not directly associated with any of these entities or websites and does not endorse any particular content.