Introduction One of the more prevalent (and comparatively successful) areas of guardianship reform has been the promotion of less restrictive alternatives to guardianship. If some alternative mechanism exists to provide support and address the issues prompting the call for guardianship, then no guardianship should be necessary. The implementation of the alternative might avoid the court […] The post Least Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

Settlement invests in new housing opportunities and community-based programs for older adults and persons with physical disabilities or mental illness BOSTON, MA – Today, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced a settlement that has been reached in a class action lawsuit that expands opportunities for individuals in nursing facilities, including the plaintiffs […] The post Agreement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit to Expand Opportunities for Individuals in Nursing Homes to Return to Community appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

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“Hold the button and count slowly to ten,” I ordered, sternly but kindly, leaning into her right ear. At 90 years old, Grandma was almost completely hard of hearing in her left ear. She nodded and firmly pressed the life alert. We were practicing in case she needed help. Despite robust Medicaid home and community-based […] The post Government Plans for Aging Must Consider the Lived Experiences & Identities of All Older Adults  appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

When: Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET – 12:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. ET Nursing facility residents often are treated unfairly when they enter a facility for “short-stay” rehabilitation. They may be denied Medicare coverage based on their preceding hospital stay being under “observation status.” Or their Medicare coverage may be terminated […] The post Nursing Facility Resident Rights in Medicare “Short-Stay” Rehabilitation appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

When: Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET – 12 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. ET Older adults and people with disabilities experience significant poor oral health outcomes. One’s income, race, disability, and state of residence all impact access to oral health and oral health outcomes. This is because oral health coverage is not […] The post Improving Access to Oral Health Through Medicaid HCBS Waivers appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

Justice in Aging is pleased to spotlight programs that have demonstrated promising practices to address inequities in the guardianship system. These unique and replicable models hold the promise of positive change to reduce bias and increase due process, reforming and improving the guardianship system for low-income older adults. About GAP The Guardianship Advocacy Project (GAP) […] The post Program Spotlight: Nevada’s Guardianship Advocacy Project (GAP) appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

In January 2021, Governor Newsom released California’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA), which lays out a ten-year plan to prepare the state for an aging and changing population. The MPA set five major goals: Housing for All Ages and Stages; Health Reimagined; Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation; Caregiving that Works; and Affording Aging. Despite the […] The post 2024 Legislative Bills and Budget Requests Related to the Master Plan for Aging appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

Many individuals – including people who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) – have criminal or traffic court debt in state courts.  Court debt can include fines, fees, restitution, interest, or other charges.  Courts typically expect individuals with court debt to make payments, but low-income SSA beneficiaries may be struggling with this debt, […] The post Help SSI and Social Security Beneficiaries With Criminal/Traffic Debt Get Relief appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more

When: Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. PT – 12:00 p.m. PT With the recently updated Older Americans Act regulations and the emphasis placed on defense of guardianship (conservatorship in California), legal aid advocates need to have the knowledge and skills to advocate for the use of least-restrictive alternatives to conservatorships and to defend […] The post Understanding the Basics of Conservatorship Law in California appeared first on Justice in Aging ..read more