Seniors are a growing and vital segment of our community. Elder Law & Advocacy seeks to protect seniors by providing legal advice and advocacy. The organization serves seniors by helping them to defend their legal rights and preserve their respected place in the community.
Since its founding in 1978, Elder Law & Advocacy has grown from a one program storefront organization with a $2,500 budget to a $2.5 million organization with six core programs offered at community sites throughout San Diego. EL&A serves more than 6,000 seniors each year and is the only organization in the region that provides no-cost legal services only to seniors.
Elder Law & Advocacy serves indigent seniors age 60+ living throughout San Diego County. Our staff have developed expertise in relevant legal subject areas and have also developed the skills to address often complex or multiple issues with clients who may be frail, emotionally distraught, hard of hearing, with cognitive impairments or with other conditions. Legal services are provided effectively and with compassionate patience.
We make a concerted effort to reach two especially vulnerable groups of seniors – those who are housebound due to poor health or lack of transportation, and those who are institutionalized in skilled nursing facilities. Isolation or inability to access services outside of the home is a serious problem in the more rural areas of the County. We conduct home visits in regions of the County where many elderly people live far away from metropolitan areas, isolated from family and friends. We have also developed a remote legal services model accessible to our senior clients. In many cases, if we were not able to serve these clients remotely or go to them, they would go without legal assistance and suffer the consequences.
Core programs include:
1) LEGAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS provides free legal services to vulnerable seniors in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
2) HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION Project staff work closely with clients facing eviction or threat of eviction, providing advocacy and related services such as in-depth negotiated settlement assistance in unlawful detainer matters. Services include pre-eviction legal services, and renter education. This includes keeping evictions off their record. Evictions can be especially damaging to seniors because they may jeopardize their housing vouchers or may negate finding another affordable home.
3) The ELDER ABUSE REPRESENTATION PROGRAM assists 1) victims of abuse who need an elder abuse restraining order for protection and 2) victims of financial abuse who need assistance with advocacy and litigation services.
4) FAMILY CAREGIVER LEGAL CONSULTATION helps family caregivers caring for seniors 60+ and those providing care for individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. Services provide them with the resources needed to help keep the care recipient at home.
5) The NURSING HOME RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT PROJECT assists residents in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities with problems relating to their care, offering legal intervention when necessary and providing follow-up services to ensure that a facility is safely providing care.
6) HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY PROJECT has provided Medicare counseling services to San Diego and Imperial County residents for over thirty years. Residents approaching retirement age, those already eligible for Medicare and those with a disability receive counseling and information outreach from well-trained HICAP staff and volunteer counselors.
Elder Law & Advocacy is looking for individuals who are passionate about protecting and empowering vulnerable seniors in our community. We want individuals who want to make a difference for this often neglected and victimized population. We want leaders who are willing to tap into their networks to educate everyone about the mission of our organization.
Previous Board Membership is helpful but not necessary. Your passion will go a long way. So will certain skills, such as:
Elder Law & Advocacy’s Board Membership offers an opportunity for passionate, service-oriented individuals to join forces with other like-minded advocates to make a true difference for vulnerable and victimized seniors in our community.
