Seniors
from Southwest Virginia and their caregivers were invited to
a training about legal issues that are of special concern
to older citizens. Law Day was held at the Goodloe Center at
Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap on
September 21st with 126 people in attendance..
The event was free and lunch was served.
Attorneys and other experts were on hand at Law Day to
discuss a variety of topics designed to help seniors use the
law to make their best plans for the future while avoiding
being taken advantage of by others. Law Day was sponsored
by Mountain Empire Older Citizens (MEOC), Southwest
Virginia Legal Aid Society, AARP Virginia, Virginia Poverty
Law Center, Senior Navigator and the Virginia Department for
the Aging.
Speakers
from across Virginia participated in this program. Libby
Davis with District III Governmental Co-Op brought
information from the Virginia Department for the Aging about
a new legal initiative, Project 2025. Kathy Pryor, an
attorney at Virginia Poverty Law Center, talked about
long-term care and nursing care. Kathy was joined by MEOC’s
Long-term Care Ombudsman, Debbie Collier, who explained how
the local ombudsman can help with these issues. Allen
Slagle, Community Specialist for SeniorNavigator.org
presented information about how to protect yourself and
family from current and old Cons and Scams.
Local
attorneys from Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society also
provided valuable legal information. Margaret Schenck,
managing attorney for Legal Aid’s Castlewood office, talked
about planning your own future by preparing your own Power
of Attorney or Living Will. She also gave a workshop on
public benefits. AARP Virginia had a display table where
participants could view the BenefitsRX Check-up website.
Nancy Coulling, an attorney at Legal Aid, talked about how
the law affects grandparents in family law cases.
Participants at the Law Day also had an opportunity to voice
their opinion about the legal needs in their community.
Their ideas will help Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society
decide what kind of legal work is most important to support
for low-income residents.
Participants gave this training a good rating. MEOC will be
scheduling more legal events throughout the area this coming
year.
