Welcome To The Elder Justice Blog!
Thank you for visiting the Elder Justice Blog! You will find information here organized into categories such as health care, housing, substituted decision making, and many others that correspond with our areas of legal expertise. We have also created a Self-Help section of the blog. Please share our blog posts using the social media buttons on…
Read MoreCELJ is Hiring!
The Center for Elder Law & Justice, Inc. (“CELJ”) is seeking a dynamic Pro Bono & Community Engagement Coordinator. CELJ is a 49 person nonprofit law office with three offices located throughout Western New York. It is our mission to use the legal system to help our clients live independently and with dignity. About the…
Read MoreANOTHER VOICE: NURSING HOME SAFETY CONCERNS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
In late July I had the opportunity to attend the United Nations 9th Working Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging. The purpose of this work group is to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons. A focus for the ninth session was long-term care and palliative care. While many excellent…
Read MoreBuffalo Alert- Ongoing SSA Impersonation Schemes
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, warns the community about an ongoing Social Security Administration (SSA) impersonation scheme. Several reports have been made in regards to people receiving suspicious phone calls from automated recordings informing people that their Social Security number (SSN) “has been suspended for suspicion of illegal activity. ”…
Read MoreMost Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them
There are at least 5 million cases of financial scams in the United States each year, and the aging population is the most likely to be affected. Here is a list of the top 10 most common senior scams: 1. Medicare/ Health Insurance Fraud The scam: Medicare recipients will be receiving a new Medicare…
Read MoreEmerald South: Profile of a Nursing Home
New York State Once Again Changes the Way That Long-Term Care is Managed for the Elderly and Disabled Under Medicaid
In July of 2015, New York State began to see a roll-out of new provisions which governed Medicaid coverage of long-term care for the elderly and disabled populations as part of an effort to redesign the program and balance costs. Under the new 2015 programs, anyone in the aged (65 years or older), blind, or…
Read MoreLegislation to Set Safe Staffing Levels in Hospitals and Nursing Homes is Supported by CELJ
June 26, 2018 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Re: Letter of Support – Safe Staffing Levels Dear Governor Cuomo, The Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) is a civil legal services agency serving the eight Western New York…
Read MoreMarginalizing LGBTQ Seniors Hits Close to Home For CELJ CEO
My daughter is gay. When she came out to us, her father and I felt that, although she was bound to face discrimination in her lifetime, we knew she was supported by her family, educated on her rights and perfectly able to take care of herself. We felt that living in New York, her…
Read MoreFilling In The Gaps – CELJ’s Senior Legal Advice Helpline Addresses Community’s Unique Needs
Have you ever heard a loved one say that they feel like they need an attorney to get through all of the forms involved in Medicare applications? That they have a question about a reverse mortgage, but don’t want to get charged $200 an hour for a simple answer? Or that they can’t get the…
Read MoreUB Law Student’s Work Instrumental in Federal Court Medicare Win
Chief Federal District Judge Geraci’s January 26, 2018 decision in Elder v. Hargan, Case # 16-CV-290 FPG (WDNY), opens up a new door to obtaining Medicare coverage of medical care in a skilled nursing facility. Noting the Secretary of Health and Human Services had misinterpreted her own regulations, Judge Geraci found “…[t]he regulations clearly contemplate…
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