News - Center for Elder Law & Justice

Erin Riker, Esq. Coordinator, CELJ Legal Advice Helpline This blog entry contains information about changes in laws, emergency declarations, and other government actions that affect your life in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is a rapidly developing situation, so this article will be updated regularly as conditions change. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO…

submitted by Kelly Barrett Sarama, Supervising Attorney Please Note: Health care information has been updating rapidly. The information in this post is current as of April 1, 2020. Please check back frequently for relevant updates. What is Telemedicine? Telemedicine (also referred to as Telehealth) refers to the practice of caring for patients remotely, through the…

submitted by F. Alex Fehrman, Esq. What if I have trouble paying my mortgage? This is a question that nobody wants to ask. Unfortunately, as the Covid-19 epidemic drags on and many individuals face an economic hardship, it is a question more and more people are asking during this difficult time. When your house is…

Submitted by Gabrielle Markle As of March 16, 2020, all non-essential matters in the Unified Court System of New York State were adjourned until at least April 30, 2020. Essential matters were narrowly defined to reduce traffic in the courthouse. It is advised that if you have an upcoming court date, to call the court…

YOUR Action is Needed to #ProtectMedicaid in the face of COVID-19. While Governor Cuomo has been a strong leader in battling COVID-19, his administration still wants to move forward with $2.5 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program. These cuts will harm 6.3 million New Yorkers who need Medicaid for their health care, including children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. We are also particularly…

submitted by Sarah Hedden, Esq. The coronavirus pandemic is a scary and stressful time for everyone, but particularly for children. Their schools are closed, routines are disrupted, and they or their loved ones may be sick. It’s important to continue a routine for ourselves and the children we care for. Across the United States, about…

The Buffalo News story published today, “Through the glass, laughter and tears in visit to 107-year-old mom at nursing home” highlights the resilience of residents, families, and staff as we learn how to live through our current reality. The story also highlights concerns from residents, family and staff as they grapple with isolation, staffing concerns,…

The SFST Bulletin is a monthly electronic publication written for financial professionals. Our goal is to increase awareness of legal issues faced by older adults in our community related to financial exploitation by providing these informative materials to financial professionals. Each month the SFST Bulletin will focus on new and timely topics that affect consumer…

submitted by Melissa Woods During these unusual times, Center for Elder Law and Justice is maintaining normalcy in its work in the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit. We are actively accepting new cases through both individual callers and agency referrals. Unfortunately, social isolation is prevalent during the COVID-19 outbreak, inevitably leading to loneliness, depression, and vulnerability.…

submitted by Kelly Barrett Sarama, Esq. and Lindsay Heckler, Esq. The Medicaid Redesign Team II (MRT II), a panel comprised mainly of industry representatives and one Medicaid consumer, was created and charged by the Governor to achieve $2.5 billion cuts to New York’s Medicaid program without harm to Medicaid recipients. The MRT II has finalized…