ACL programs and services funded under the Older Americans Act (OAA) are designed to empower older adults to remain independent, healthy, and safe in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Legal assistance and elder rights programs, along with other AoA programs and services, help to promote the independence, autonomy, and well-being of older persons.
ACL-funded protection and advocacy systems also provide critical advocacy and legal services to people with disabilities of all ages.
Administration on Aging Legal Assistance Programs
The legal assistance network, National Center on Law and Elder Rights, Model Approaches demonstration grants, and Legal Assistance Developers are programs designed to protect older adults from direct challenges to independence, choice, and financial security. These programs also help older individuals to understand their rights, exercise options through informed decision-making, and achieve optimal benefit from the support and opportunities promised by law.
Legal programs under OAA Title III-B, Title IV, and Title VII provide and enhance important protections for older persons.
- The Legal Assistance for the Elderly Program network can assist older adults in accessing long-term care options and protect older adults against direct challenges to their independence, choice, and financial security.
- Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems grants help states develop and implement effective approaches for integrating low-cost legal mechanisms into statewide legal/aging service delivery networks to enhance overall service delivery capacity.
- The National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) empowers aging and legal professionals with the tools and resources they need to provide older clients and consumers with high-quality legal assistance in areas of critical importance to their independence, health, and financial security.