Community News

Join members of the Elder Law Section of the Utah State Bar this Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm  for a discussion on topics affecting the aging population. Now is the time to fill-out your advanced directive!  The discussion will occur at Atria Senior Living, 10970 S. 700 E. in Sandy, Utah.

More information on specific eligibility for benefits can be found on the local VA website at veterans.utah.gov , but you may be interested in the following list of available benefits and contact information (not exhaustive):

• Property tax abatement depending on percentage of disability;
• Purple Heart Tuition Waiver;
• Tuition Waiver for Military Members’ Surviving Dependents;
• Honorary High School Diplomas;
• Veterans Upward Bound (assisting in obtaining admission to post-secondary schools);
• Veterans License Plates;
• Veterans Job Representatives;
• Veterans Job Preference;
• Veterans Hiring Priority;
• Veteran Nursing Homes;
• Utah State Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park located at 117111 Camp Williams Road in Bluffdale;
• Bus and Trax Reduced Fare Cards;
• Community Based Outpatient Clinics;
• Valor House (provides transitional housing to homeless veterans for up to two years)  (801) 582-1565 ext. 2703

Did you know that you may obtain exceptional help filling out a VA applications for pension benefits for *FREE* from the American Legion (801) 326-2380;  VFW  (801) 326-2385;  DAV  (801) 326-2375; or Purple Heart (801) 326-2471?

Did you know that the Utah State Bar Elder Law Section sponsors a program that allows Seniors to make appointments at their local Senior Center to discuss legal issues important to them with a licensed attorney in the State of Utah ...without cost?  I will be participating this Friday in that capacity at the Sandy Senior Center.  However, lawyers from the Elder Law section of the Utah State Bar and other volunteer lawyers routinely participate on a rotating basis in this service county-wide!  You simply need to contact the Salt Lake County Senior Center near you for more information.

Join social worker, Carol Wilcox, long term care insurance specialist, Nate Raso and me for an evening of information on issues confronting the senior community including but not limited to: the most important legal documents a senior should possess as (s)he ages; long term care planning with respect to legal documents; cognitive testing, care giver support; three items that lead to premature death among seniors; and the most important aspects of long term care policies.

This event will take place at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on 2/29/2012 at 7:00 pm.  Please email jenniejoeconnelly@hotmail.com for additional information on this event. 

Please join us!

The Young Lawyers section of the Utah State Bar is sponsoring a pro bono opportunity for attorneys and free basic estate planning for low income senior citizens in Utah at Wasatch Manor located at 535 South, 200 East in Salt Lake City tomorrow, 1/14/2012.  I will attend and direct the training session  prior to the event from 10-11 am. 

I'll be at the Senior Expo today from 8-12.  See you there!

The Elder Law Section of the Utah State Bar will participate in this year's Senior Expo at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.  Volunteer attorneys concentrating in Elder Law will be on hand on 9/29 and 9/30  from 8 am to 7 pm on Thurday and 8 am to 4 pm on Friday to answer questions relating to general law matters affecting seniors.  I'll see you there!

Recently I learned of a wonderful program offered by Community Nursing Services in Salt Lake City, Utah called the "Senior Wish Program".  If  hospice services are provided by CNS they become eligible for the “Senior Wish Program” which seeks to fulfill a wish for hospice patients (such as reuniting of family and friends).  The website for CNS is:  http://www.cns-cares.org .  All “wishes” are provided by donors…such as plane tickets, money etc.  The program director told me that recently she took one hospice patient to a local amusement park called "Lagoon" because of the fond memories he had of the park as a boy.  Although he was in a wheel chair, he loved his time there.  If you would like to make donations to this program, please contact CNS through their website.