Written by the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association @ LCPLFA.org.
Around the nation, older adults make their marks every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, mentors, and advocates. They offer their time, talents, and experience to the benefit of our communities.
For 57 years, Older Americans Month has been a special time to recognize these contributions. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) each May, Older Americans Month also provides resources to help older Americans stay healthy and independent, and materials to help communities support and celebrate their citizens.
When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as “Senior Citizens Month,” the prelude to “Older Americans Month.”
Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, especially those who defended our country. Every President since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other activities. Many Life Care Planning Law Firms plan special events to draw public attention to the important and valuable contributions that clients and their families make in their communities every day. To locate a Life Care Planning Law Firm near you, check out the directory at LCPLFA.org.
For the attorneys, elder care coordinators, public benefits specialists, and other professionals who work at Life Care Planning Law Firms, every month is Older Americans Month. “We can see the profound impact our clients have made on their families, their communities, and the world at large,” says Tim Takacs, the Certified Elder Law Attorney who created the Life Care Planning approach to elder law and has taught the fundamentals of Life Care Planning to hundreds of lawyers throughout the United States. “We applaud our clients and their families for their past, present, and future achievements.”
Life Care Planning Law Firms bring the focus of Older Americans Month to their elderly clients and their families every day. They do this by making it possible for their clients to live independently, participate fully in their communities, and retain control of their lives for as long as possible. Life Care Planning Law Firms give older adults and their families access to expert guidance throughout the long-term care journey. But the skills of the attorneys, elder care coordinators, and other staff members at a Life Care Planning Law Firm don’t come just from a degree or from achieving a professional credential. Many have been family caregivers themselves. “Most of the staff members at a typical Life Care Planning Law Firm have had personal experience caring for elderly loved ones,” Tim adds. “That experience brings great passion for the work—and compassion for the people who benefit from it. We consider it a privilege to walk alongside our clients and their family caregivers during the long-term care journey. It really is personal for us.”
W&G is a proud member of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association. Attorneys Jessica Fisher Greene & Ryan A. Webber specialize in Elder Law & are happy to assist you. Please call to schedule an appointment (717) 697-4700.
