Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino has announced that the 18th Annual Senior Law Day in White Plains will take place on Tuesday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue. The free event will offer 20 educational workshops, one-on-one consultations and an opportunity to meet and learn from experienced elder law attorneys, certified financial planners, geriatric care managers and long-term care insurance specialists. Free parking will also be available.
“We can’t stress enough the importance of planning, especially when it comes to aging,” said Astorino. “Senior Law Day is designed to help Westchester families navigate the legal, financial and health concerns that all of us experience as we grow older.”
The program, hosted in part by Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), is open to all county senior citizens and their families. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome and sign-up for the free, 15-minute, one-on-one consultations will be available at the door. To register in advance, call (914) 813-6300 or visit www.westchestergov.com/seniors.
“Since its start in 1999, Senior Law Day has benefitted an estimated 7,000 seniors, family members and caregivers throughout Westchester,” said DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter. “It’s one of our department’s most valuable programs, not only because of the services offered, but also because of the dedicated community partners we work with who volunteer their time and expertise to making these events possible.”
The full day of workshops will include topics on elder law, estate and retirement planning, wills and trusts, social security benefits, long-term care, Medicare and Medicaid, financial planning, affordable housing and more. In addition, two sessions will be presented in Spanish.
The following is an outline of each of the scheduled workshops:
WORKSHOP 1:
TIME: 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Estate Planning/Elder Law 101: Nuts and bolts of estate planning to preserve your assets
Should I use a will or a trust: Who’s afraid of probate? What to do when someone dies
What are the best and most affordable housing options as you age?
How to avoid common scams that target older adults
Understanding the basics of retirement plans and IRA distribution rules
How to start the conversation on aging issues: Family dialogues
Spanish: Cobertura Básica de Medicare
15-minute consultations by appointment
WORKSHOP 2:
TIME: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Understanding your social security retirement benefits
How do I pay for long-term care? Planning with and without long-term care insurance
Take charge: Planning in advance for your health care
Making it easier to care: How to use a power of attorney and when to establish a guardianship
I don’t want to talk about it: The most frequently overlooked aspects of estate planning
Legal and financial planning for the newly diagnosed dementia patient
Spanish: Planificación de bienes: Testamentos, cuidados médicos y finanzas
15-minute consultations by appointment
WORKSHOP 3:
TIME: 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Nuts and bolts of Medicaid planning
Should I use a will or a trust: Who’s afraid of probate? What to do when someone dies
Avoid 10 greatest gaffes in estate planning
Medicare: Plan, enroll, and manage to meet your changing needs
Are you a snow bird? Are you thinking about enjoying retirement in another state? Estate and tax considerations for a dual residence client
15-minute consultations by appointment
WORKSHOP 4:
TIME: 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Estate Planning/Elder Law 101: Nuts and bolts of estate planning to preserve your assets
15-minute consultations by appointment
In addition to workshops and consultations, helpful materials from government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and program sponsors will also be available at exhibit tables. Questions regarding the program or services may be emailed to or tweeted to @seniorlawday. Other useful resources are available at www.seniorlawday.info.
Senior Law Day is presented by DSPS, the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services, and the Ninth Judicial District of the New York State Office of Court Administration. The program is made possible by members of the Senior Law Day Committee, Co-Chaired by Steven A. Schurkman, Esq., a Partner with Keane & Beane, P.C., Sara Meyers, Esq., a Partner with Enea Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP and Elena Falcone, Director of the Westchester Library System. Sarah A. Steckler, Esq., an Associate with Keane & Beane, P.C., is the Senior Law Day Program Director.
Sponsors of this year’s event are: Amoruso & Amoruso, LLP; Bernie Leiner, Long Term Care Insurance; Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP; Bryan Covert, Gary Goldberg Financial Services; Cuddy & Feder, LLP; Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP; Gate of Heaven Cemetery; Giannasca & Shook, PLLC; Glassman & Brown, LLP; Hyman & Gilbert; Keane & Beane, P.C.; Lamson & Cutner, P.C.; Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Asher, PLLC; Law Office of Valorie Joy Promisel; Life House Pooled Trust Services; Littman Krooks LLP; Lob Planning Group; Marcia S. Kaplan, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.; Robert Leitner, CFP, RIA, Financial Advisory Network; Rosenthal & Markowitz, LLP; Salvatore M. DiCostanzo, Esq.; Shamberg Marwell Hollis Andreycak & Laidlaw, P.C.; The Bristal Assisted Living; The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration as Trustee for The Theresa Foundation Pooled Trusts; The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale; The Osborn and Osborn Home Care; The Woodlawn Cemetery; Wartburg; Westchester Elder Care Consultants, LLC; Westchester Library System; FRIENDS OF SENIOR LAW DAY; Bruce Segall; Joseph Soricelli AIFA, CMP, Aging Issues Info, Flynn Financial Partners, Ltd; Kommer Bave & Ollman LLP.