Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, legal services providers find creative ways to serve older adults

Many legal services providers have worked in the past year to change how they reach and assist their clients, particularly those who are older and at higher risk for developing more severe cases of COVID-19. While some created or expanded their partnerships with community organizations, others moved their services online or outdoors.

Jan 4, 2021 2:12 PM CST

Relax with our favorite long reads of 2020

Dec 23, 2020 10:10 AM CST

How can aging judges know when it’s time to hang up the robe?

Lawyers, law professors and even members of the judiciary voice concerns that judges are serving too much time on the bench without ensuring their cognitive skills stay sharp. They have called for mandatory retirement and cognitive testing as well as a more consistent approach to addressing cognitive decline. But members of the legal community who have experience with neuroscience argue that the question of when a judge should step down is complex.

Dec 1, 2020 3:30 AM CST

A flood of age discrimination lawsuits is expected from COVID-19 and the economic downturn

The novel coronavirus pandemic has raised unprecedented legal questions for U.S. employers and employees who are older than 40 or who have a medical disability. Labor and employment attorneys say they are receiving a flood of complaints and questions about layoffs, firings and recalls to the workplace.

Sep 1, 2020 1:12 PM CDT

ABA president urges Senate to support nursing homes in next COVID-19 stimulus bill

Jul 20, 2020 2:46 PM CDT

Lawyers address problems with estate-planning document signing during coronavirus crisis

Many lawyers across the country are now using online video meetings to help senior clients arrange their affairs. This has become increasingly vital as the CDC warns that individuals who are age 65 or older and have underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for developing more severe cases of COVID-19.

May 4, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Advocacy organizations call for compassionate release of elderly, sick prisoners

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has renewed the focus on conditions inside the nation’s jails and prisons, many of which are struggling to implement proper cleaning and social distancing practices and protect their prisoners and staff. Elderly and sick prisoners have moved to the forefront of the conversation.

Apr 21, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

5 red flags that a client might be a victim of elder abuse

The ABA Journal spoke with elder law attorneys about how to identify some red flags or signs of elder abuse when they’re meeting with clients and how to respond to them.

Mar 18, 2020 9:34 AM CDT

Why elder law is a growing, ‘anything-can-happen practice’

Financial exploitation is just one component of elder law. It’s a growing area of practice that includes not only advance medical directives, estate planning, guardianship, probate and will contests, but also real estate, tax, employment, special needs, discrimination, domestic violence and Medicaid issues.

Jan 30, 2020 2:53 PM CST