May is National Elder Law Month. It’s fine to make such a proclamation, but what does it mean?
Originally created through a declaration by Pres. John F. Kennedy in 1963, when it was referred to as Senior Citizens Month, the name was changed by Pres. Jimmy Carter in 1980 to Older Americans Month. Today it is recognized primarily through the efforts of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and its members as National Elder Law Month.
It is a month more than any other when Elder Law attorneys try to educate in their communities about the unique nature of this type of law. In reality, elder law consists of a number of legal issues unique to this population and comprises a number of areas of practice including incapacity planning, tax planning, estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care, Social Security (SSDI and SSI), special needs planning (e.g., special/supplemental needs trusts), conservatorship and guardianship, asset protection, elder abuse and exploitation, retirement planning, mental health law, estate and trust administration and more.
I am honored to be asked again this year to speak on issues related to Elder Law as part of the Law in the Library series. I will be leading a discussion on Legal Issues Affecting North Florida’s Seniors and You at the Millhopper Branch Library on Monday May 16 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This discussion is free and open to the public. I encourage you to attend.