Legal Assistance for Seniors Provides Free Services to Alameda County Elders

By Jay Hipps, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Are you unsure about how or when to sign up for Medicare? Perhaps your staff needs assistance with understanding low income health care options. Or have you suspected that an older loved one may be faced with an abusive situation? These are just some of many questions that Legal Assistance for Seniors can begin to help with. Based in Oakland, Legal Assistance for Seniors serves all Alameda County's older residents (and Medicare beneficiaries of any age) through education, counseling, and advocacy. This non-profit agency is driven by the vision that all seniors will be able to live with safety, dignity, and the greatest possible independence regardless of their economic, social, or health circumstances.

Legal Assistance for Seniors (LAS) has three core programs that are free for Alameda County elders: legal services, health insurance counseling, and community education. According to Executive Director, James Treggiari, "LAS strives to empower seniors to thrive in their community. A strong, healthy senior population allows the community to benefit from seniors' wisdom and perspective."

Legal areas of expertise that LAS attorneys can assist seniors (age requirements vary) with are health care (e.g. Medicare, Medi-Cal, private insurance), legal guardianship of minor children, public benefits (e.g. Social Security, Supplemental Security Income), citizenship, advanced health care directives, and elder abuse.

LAS is considered by several professional communities including county social services, attorneys, and social workers to be a leader in advancing knowledge and outreach surrounding elder abuse. Each spring, the agency hosts an Annual Conference on Elder Abuse to bring together service providers who deal with the effects of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of the elderly within a wide arena of agencies and professions.

Additionally, LAS is the parent agency for Alameda County's official Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program also known throughout California as HICAP. HICAP is a free, volunteer-based program that aims to help people on Medicare of any age navigate the complexities of the Medicare system. HICAP counselors undergo extensive and on-going training monitored by the California Department on Aging to provide objective, un-biased information about Medicare through individual appointments available at convenient locations throughout Alameda County. HICAP's goal is to ensure that beneficiaries are able to make informed decisions regarding their health insurance options as well as to protect their consumer rights and benefits.

Organizations who are interested in learning more about LAS' services should also consider scheduling a free community education presentation. LAS provides a variety of trainings covering topics related to its legal and HICAP programs. They include providing an overview of Medicare coverage and options, long term care insurance, advance health care directives, and consumer fraud prevention and protection to just list a few. Participants also receive a wide range of helpful materials that they can take home and review. In 2015, LAS delivered 190 presentations to over 17,000 seniors across Alameda County.

To learn more or schedule an appointment with Legal Assistance for Seniors, visit www.lashicap.org or call 510-832-3040. Services are also available for limited English speakers.

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