Retirement News : Seniors : In Colorado several organizations help seniors weather safely ...

In Colorado several organizations help seniors weather safely ...

Date Added: 01-06-2005

Senior Law Days are annual events sponsored by the law school, the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Regional Council of Governments. They are free meetings designed to educate senior citizens about prominent legal issues that affect them. There is an "elder law" which applies to a complex umbrella of topics that range from nursing-home abuse to eligibility for government benefits.
The term "elder law" applies to a complex umbrella of topics that range from nursing-home abuse to eligibility for government benefits. And, with the coming wave of baby-boomer retirees, this area of law is becoming more relevant for a growing portion of the population.
Over 71,000 seniors in Colorado have legal problems, according to a fall 2004 survey conducted by the National research Center. Of this total, approximately one-fourth said the legal issue they faced in the last 12 months would be classified as a "major problem".
For seniors living on fixed incomes, the resolution of major legal problems often represents a substantial cost. While middle-class individuals with family support can often afford private attorneys, there is a significant portion of this older demographic that lack the necessary financial resources.
The Denver Business Joiurnal (Protecting the legal rights of the elderly ; 16/05/2005) reports that the Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People offers legal representation and education throughout the state.
A vast amount of legal cases fall under the category of public benefits and involve government programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security and the corresponding qualifications people must have to receive these benefits.
Another key area related to public benefits is the quality of long-term care received in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Colorado has approximately 33,500 seniors living in 226 licensed nursing homes and 519 assisted living facilities.
In 2004, a total of 9,425 complaints were filed.
Furthermore, after the recent media coverage surrounding the Terri Schiavo case, living wills have become a hot topic, written instructions that outline seniors'medical decisions if they become unable to speak or decide for themselves.
Besides educating the elderly population about how to protect themselves, there are also efforts to educate banks and their staff to recognize situations where people may be trying to take advantage of elderly people for financial gain.

For More Information:

http://www.seniorscopie.com/actu/article.asp?id=050530225824&rub=swi