Elderly Legal Assistance Program
Website:
https://aging.georgia.gov/tools-resources/elderly-legal-assistance-program
Address:
2 Peachtree Street, NW
33rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone:
404-657-5258
Information:
- Civil matters only
- NO criminal penalty (restitution, fines, or imprisonment)
- Provides Georgians 60 years and older to receive access to lawyers and paralegals who provide representation in non-criminal legal cases, information on many issues of interest to seniors, and community education to prevent harm that may be caused by not having legal assistance
- Elderly Legal Assistance Program (ELAP)’s services are provided in every county and addresses issues like:
- Income
- Consumer protection
- Abuse, neglect and exploitation
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Long-term care
- Program services include:
- Legal information
- Legal counseling
- Case representation
- Legal education sessions to help older Georgians prevent more costly, time-consuming legal problems
- ELAP is required to help those who are:
- 60 years of age and
- In great need of social and/or economic need
- Limited English-speaking persons and
- Rural or Low-income minorities.
- People young than 60 who meet certain income and resources requirement should look into Georgia Legal Services Program and/or Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
- List of Programs:
- Senior Community Service Employee Program: provides part-time community service work & training for Georgia’s unemployed low-income seniors’ age 55 and older to help them obtain paid employment.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: improves the quality of life of residents in nursing and personal care hoes by acting as an independent advocate
- GeorgiaCares: The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) where certified counselors help consumers understand Medicare issues, choose Medicare health and drug plans, and long-term care insurance.
- Elder Rights & Advocacy Programs: legal services, elder abuse prevention programs & health insurance counseling.
- Georgia’s Aging & Disability Resource Connection: a one-stop-shop for consumers’ aging and disability-related information, counseling, referral, and planning needs.