Click here to read bios of advocates

Elder Law attorneys honor Nation’s Senior Volunteer Advocates

Tucson, Arizona (May 3, 2007) — A 91-year-old Florida volunteer advocate, a Missouri reverend, a long-time Newsday columnist and a former AARP national president from Wisconsin are the finalists for a new National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) award honoring elder involvement in state or national issues.

Bess (Budd) Lander Bell, Rev. Elbert Cole, Saul Friedman and Eugene Lehrmann were selected from a distinguished pool of candidates for the inaugural NAELA Elder Leadership Award. The award – which is also being sponsored by GRAND Magazine – will be presented to the winner on May 3 at the 2007 NAELA Symposium in Cleveland.

Elder law leaders say the four have been outspoken champions for their respective causes – whether it involves improving the lives of American senior citizens, people with disabilities or children – and have served as an inspiration to their communities. Each was nominated by a NAELA member and had to be 65 or older.

“This award is designed to promote activism and involvement by elders for the betterment of the lives of others,” said NAELA President Donna Bashaw, an elder law attorney based in Laguna Hills, CA. “These finalists embody the ideal activist spirit and have made significant local, state and even national contributions in the form of sustained exemplary service.”

Bell, for example, has dedicated the past 66 years to helping the elder population, as well as people with disabilities, low-income families, the mentally ill and children. The 91-year-old Tallahassee woman has been instrumental in the development and implementation of numerous landmark pieces of legislation affecting the citizens of Florida. “In a recent article, Ms. Bell was called by one columnist the ‘Conscience of the State,’ a distinction deserving of her lifetime of advocacy for health and human services,” said Twyla L. Sketchley, a Tallahassee-based NAELA member.

In 1975, Rev. Cole founded the Shepherd’s Centers of America – an interfaith, nonprofit organization that encourages elder involvement in the community. In the past two decades, the organization has grown from one center in Kansas City, Mo. to about 75 centers in 21 states serving tens of thousands of older adults. “I have worked on committees with Reverend Elbert C. Cole and believe he embodies the true spirit of seniors bettering the lives of older adults and the communities they serve,” said Karen H. Weber, a Kansas-based NAELA member.

For more than a decade, Friedman has focused on elder issues, writing “Grey Matters,” a weekly column for New York-based newspaper Newsday. Despite suffering physical setbacks after a stroke in 2003, he has continued to generate columns tackling hot-button issues such as Medicare Part D, the insurance industry and the war in Iraq. “Saul Friedman is an ardent advocate for seniors and the disabled and provides his readers with direct and accurate journalism. He is an inspiration to thousands of seniors that read his column,” said Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq., a New York-based NAELA member.

Finally, former AARP national president Eugene Lehrmann has spent years lobbying for legislation to benefit the elder population and retired persons, particularly in relation to health care delivery, pension reform and protecting the Social Security program. “Gene’s knowledge and experience, his wise guidance and his ability to draw out the best in others has had a vast and immeasurable impact on services to the elderly in Madison and nationally,” said nominating attorney Barbara S. Hughes, a Madison-based NAELA member.

The May award ceremony coincides with NAELA’s National Elder Law Month. Throughout the month, NAELA members nationwide offer special living will days, public seminars, elder law clinics and other activities designed to educate the public.

Representatives of GRAND Magazine – a publication catering to grandparents and retiring Baby Boomers – say part of the goal behind offering the Elder Leadership Award is to encourage more of the nation’s elder population to get involved in their community. “We hope that by shining a light on senior volunteer excellence, this award can lead to increased elder activism nationwide,” said Jonathan Micocci, President of GRAND Magazine.

At the symposium, attendees will see a professional video presentation highlighting the award winner’s life and work. A monetary donation will also be made to one of the recipient’s charitable organizations.

What is Elder Law?
Elder law is a specialized area that involves representing, counseling and assisting seniors, people with disabilities and their families in connection with a variety of legal issues, with a primary emphasis on promoting the highest quality of life for individuals. Typically, elder law addresses the convergence of legal needs with the social, psychological, medical and financial needs of individuals. The elder law practitioner handles estate planning and counsels clients about planning for incapacity with health care decision-making documents. The elder law attorney also assists clients in planning for possible long-term care needs, including at-home care, assisted living or nursing home care. Locating the appropriate type of care, coordinating public and private resources to finance the cost of care, and working to ensure the client’s right to quality care are all part of the elder law practice.

About NAELA
Established in 1987, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others. Members of NAELA are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has more than 5,000 members across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.naela.org