Page 10 - Whole Magazine Jan 2021

Combat Isolation and Loneliness ElderLaw Attorney

on what we heard from our members who
Connecting Older Adults to Programs Eldercare Locator can help foster critical are on the ground in their communities ElderCareMatters.com
that Foster Social Connection While social connections that have been working directly with older adults, no issue
Reducing Social Isolation and diminished due to physical distancing in is more important to older adults than Did you know that elder law attorneys
Loneliness is the Topic of 2020 Home the wake of COVID-19. preventing the social isolation and specialize in legal issues facing seniors?
for the Holidays Campaign loneliness that may occur during the There are a variety of reasons that a
pandemic. Our members have truly stepped person may need to enlist the help of an
Celebrations looked different this up to find creative ways to meet the needs of elder law attorney, but everyone should
year as families heed advice to embrace the older adults in their communities during consider these three tips when answering
physical distancing due to COVID-19. this uncertain time. For older adults and the question of how to choose an
For many, particularly older adults who caregivers who are unsure where to turn to attorney.
are more likely to live alone and whose find local social engagement opportunities, The first thing to do when faced with
social circles tend to be smaller, this the Eldercare Locator is a critical the question of how to choose an elder
will exacerbate the social isolation and connection.” law attorney may be to generate a list of
loneliness that many individuals are Eldercare Locator the issues you would like the attorney to
experiencing due to the COVID-19 Launched in 1991, the Eldercare Locator is address. Elder law attorneys can perform
pandemic. This is why the Eldercare the only national information and referral a wide range of tasks, such as helping
Locator, the National Association of resource to provide support to consumers you or members of your family create a
Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and the across the spectrum of issues affecting older plan for long-term healthcare, including
U.S. Administration for Community Americans. The Locator was established and affording a nursing home or in-home
Living have made staying connected is funded by the U.S. Administration for care if needed, helping seniors obtain
and healthy during the COVID-19 Community Living and is administered by benefits like Medicare and Medicaid,
pandemic the focus of this year’s the National disability, social security, and veterans’
campaign. Although designed as Home Association of Area Agencies on Aging benefits, and preparing key estate
for the Holidays campaign, it translates (n4a). eldercare.acl.gov planning documents such as wills, trusts,
into 2021 for on–going support and care “Preventing social isolation and About the campaign and powers of attorney. You may not be
for older adults loneliness has always been a core mission Home for the Holidays is an annual public able to answer the question of how to
Across the United States, Area for the Aging Network, and COVID-19 has education campaign that encourages choose an elder law attorney if you do
Agencies on Aging and their partners made this work even more critical,” said discussion of important issues affecting not first understand what you would like
have a long history of helping older Lance Robertson, Assistant Secretary for older Americans at a time of the year when that attorney to do for you.
adults find programs that can help them Aging and Administrator of the U.S. family and friends often gather. Past Once you have identified your needs,
stay connected to the community, Administration for Community Living. campaigns have focused on the decision to the second tip on how to choose an elder
whether it be through in-person or “The good news is that there are many give up driving, updates that can be made to law attorney is to make sure that you
virtual wellness or exercise classes, arts resources available to help older adults homes to accommodate the changes that retain an attorney who has experience
programs, home-delivered meals or stay connected and engaged” even when come along with aging, the importance of addressing those needs. Elder law is a
other activities. Developed this year in we have to keep our physical maintaining brain health and more. special area of law where seniors and
partnership with the University of distance. Through the campaign, we want National Association of Area Agencies on their loved ones have very unique
California, San Diego Center for to make sure that older adults, families Aging concerns. You need an attorney who
Healthy Aging, the campaign is and caregivers know about the programs The National Association of Area Agencies understands the nuances of:
intended to raise awareness of local and services that are available right in on Aging (n4a) is a 501©(3) membership 1. What to do when a senior needs to
programs that can help reduce social their own communities. We also want to association representing America’s national find good long-term care,
isolation and loneliness among older encourage everyone to ˜commit to network of 622 Area Agencies on Aging 2. How to secure the long-term care he
adults. connect’ after the holidays and make a (AAAs) and providing a voice in the nation’s or she needs, and
An n4a report conducted in the early plan for staying engaged ourselves and capital for the more than 250 Title VI Native 3. How the senior and their loved
months of the pandemic found that 60 for reaching out to others who may be American aging programs. The mission of ones, including his or her spouse, will be
percent of n4a’s Area Agency on Aging isolated. And remember, the Eldercare n4a is to build the capacity of its members so able to afford this care.
members were already seeing the Locator is there to help.” they can better help older adults and people A final tip on how to choose an
negative health effects of social “Research shows that there is a with disabilities live with dignity and attorney is to invest the time
isolation and 83 percent wanted measurable connection between our choices in their homes and communities for interviewing the attorney to make sure
guidance on technology that could help health and social connections that we as long as possible. n4a.org he or she is the right fit. You want to be
them address social isolation in their experience,” said Dilip V. Jeste, MD, University of California, San Diego comfortable with the attorney you hire;
communities. To meet this growing Senior Associate Dean for Healthy Aging Center for Healthy Aging as you will undoubtedly need to disclose
need, community-based organizations and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry The Center for Healthy Aging and the Sam very personal information about
in all areas of the country adjusted their and Neurosciences at UC San Diego and Rose Stein Institute for Research on yourself, your finances, your health, and
programming to focus on helping older School of Medicine. “By addressing these Aging at the University of California, Health your family in order for the attorney to
adults stay connected to their issues head-on, this campaign can help Sciences, is dedicated to the development provide the best representation.
communities in a variety of ways, older adults stay healthy in mind and and application of the latest advances in For help with elder law issues, our
including virtual trivia games, wellness body.” biomedical and behavioral science office is here for you and your loved
and caregiver support classes, letter- “Each year in the campaign, we tackle a knowledge to issues of successful, healthy ones. Contact us today to schedule an
writing campaigns, friendly check-in critical issue facing older adults,” said n4a aging and the prevention and reduction of appointment. Visit the website at
calls and more. By connecting older CEO Sandy Markwood. “This year, based the burden of disability and disease in late www.eldercarematters.com
adults to these local programs, the life. aging.ucsd.edu
10 January 2021