It's a non-profit organization funded by the state bar association, state and local government grants, and private donations. Their mission is to prevent elder abuse in all its forms, and a large portion of their caseload is representing seniors who have been targeted by frauds and scams. They can also help with things like Social Security disputes, heath care and housing rights, wills, probate, guardianships, and other issues primarily affecting seniors. In some cases, they'll even go to court with you.
According to their website,
Each year, an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans are abused, neglected, and exploited. In addition, seniors throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care.As much as we don't want to, unfortunately we're all getting older. It's nice to know that a service like this is available. If you know someone who could use some legal help, set up an appointment with Legal Services or stop by one of their outreach sites.
Unfortunately, no one is immune to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It occurs in every demographic, and can happen to anyone—a family member, a neighbor, even you.
