(LAKELAND, Fla.) - Seniors face a host of legal challenges, and when they cannot afford an attorney, legal aid service providers often serve as a lifeline.
Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) hosted an outreach event at the Coleman-Bush Building in Lakeland on Wednesday, March 15, to educate local seniors on Elder Law.
"The event was a huge success, with attendees expressing enthusiasm and gratitude for being reintroduced to FRLS and the services it offers," said Britt Berg, pro bono manager.
Berg and FRLS paralegal Ledora Cesar provided an overview of FRLS's services and grants available at their Lakeland office.
They gave out flyers and handouts. Through their outreach efforts, FRLS is helping to ensure that low-income seniors in Lakeland have access to the legal services they need to protect their rights and plan for their future.
FRLS provides a wide range of free legal services for Polk County seniors, allowing them to live in dignity and safety by addressing and solving legal barriers to their health, independence, and economic security.
Those services include:
- Housing (including foreclosure, eviction, unsafe living conditions, improper shut-off of utilities, reverse mortgages, HOA assessments, and liens, preserving and accessing affordable housing, assisted living, and senior housing)
- Income and medical benefits (including Social security, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SSD, access to healthcare, and benefits for food and basic needs)
- Senior women at-risk- legal services to address the economic issues and barriers affecting the security and stability of senior women and caretakers of elderly or disabled women
- Title III (legal services provided under the Older Americans Act) – wide-ranging civil legal services for seniors in need
- Consumer Protection (helping seniors victimized by fraud or deception, unlawful acts by vendors, contractors or third parties, identity fraud, resolution of contract disputes, unfair lending practices)
- Family Law and protection against Elder Abuse – Injunctions for Protection, Divorce, Guardianship
- Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Medical Care Directives – preparing basic estate planning documents, providing legal services to address serious lifetime incapacity and end of life issues)
- Victims of storms and natural disasters and legal relief for those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The focus of the outreach event was to educate seniors on important legal documents such as Advanced Directives, Durable Power of Attorney, and Last Will & Testament.
All these areas of law work as a roadmap for seniors who need a plan, in case something was to happen to their health. For example, Advanced Directives are legal documents that allow individuals to make their healthcare decisions in advance if they are unable to communicate for themselves in the future.
By providing educational information on these important legal documents, FRLS aims to empower seniors to make informed decisions about their future healthcare and financial needs.
Elders get help:
If you are in need of any of these services, please call 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at https://frlsoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=129&h=daa817& . Also, call us if you want us to do a presentation on legal issues affecting the elderly.
Qualified clients can receive free, confidential legal advice and referrals from FRLS attorneys and paralegals who have experience representing seniors.