BAEC Bulletin | January/February 2023 | 17
In the Public Service Medlaw Partnership of WNY and Western New York Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative Medical-legal partnerships incorporate the skill of CENTER FOR ELDER LAW & JUSTICE
Through Center for Elder Law & Justice, The Medlaw Partnership of WNY’s latest project is assisting caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to fulfill their duties of caretaking. Through the Western New York Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (“The Initiative”) funded by the New York State Department of Health, Center for Elder Law & Justice partners with Alzheimer’s Association of WNY and eight county Offices for the Aging to aid caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Under The Initiative, Center for Elder Law & Justice attorneys provide free legal services and education to caregivers. The legal services offered spans a variety of legal matters, including such topics such as housing, health insurance, income maintenance, employment, consumer matters, and family issues. However, the most common legal issue referred has been assistance with advance planning and the preparation and execution of important legal documents such as Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Last Will and Testament, and Burial Directives. Such documents are vital to ensuring caregivers can fulfill their duty to take care of their loved ones who are facing dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive impairments. Caregiver supports, like the Initiative, have shown proven success in keeping people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at home, where they live longer and happier lives. Through the MedLaw Partnership of WNY, legal services are provided in-person, via phone, or virtually, depending on the client’s particular needs. Individuals who are interested in obtaining legal services or further information about the MedLaw Partnership programs may contact 1-844-700-1872. • “Social workers . . . are trained to identify healthharming social-legal issues affecting the family and to make referrals through the Partnership.”
attorneys into health care facilities to help clinicians, social workers, and other healthcare staff address fundamental problems creating the essence of health care inequities. Center for Elder Law & Justice implemented a Medical- legal partnership in 2017, entitled the MedLaw Partnership of WNY. Since that time, the MedLaw Partnership of WNY has grown into a robust collaboration that addresses health-harming civil legal issues facing patients. Legal issues involving housing, health insurance, income maintenance, employment rights, access to benefits, advanced planning, and consumer debt are common among the clients served, and at times may even be a barrier to receiving needed medical treatment. Under the MedLaw Partnership of WNY, Center for Elder Law & Justice partners with Erie County Medical Center, Kaleida Health, and Western New York Breast Health to assist patients with their legal needs. Attorneys are embedded at several area hospitals and health care facilities in Buffalo, New York, to provide free legal assistance on matters that may be impacting an individual’s overall health. In 2022, the Kaleida Medlaw Partnership expanded to include John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. Through this expansion, the MedLaw Partnership serves not only the main in-patient hospital, but also the numerous Oishei children’s out-patient clinics situated throughout Erie County. Social workers, clinicians and other members of the patient’s health care team are trained to identify healthharming social-legal issues affecting the family and to make referrals through the Partnership. Studies have shown that having a medical legal partnership in a children’s health care setting can contribute to a decrease in hospitalization as it can help address acute legal needs such as securing paid time off from work to care for a child as well as possible causes of health issues like unhealthy housing conditions. Since its launch, the most common referrals through the MedLaw Partnership at Oishei have been housing insecurity, employment rights, and custodial or family stability issues.
AUTHORS: KATELYN NIKEL, ESQ.
Center for Elder Law & Justice JENNIFER HILBURGER, ESQ. Center for Elder Law & Justice RACHEL BALDASSARO, ESQ. Center for Elder Law & Justice NATALIE WEIL Alzheimer’s Association of WNY
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