Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging and Williams Mullen Law Firm recently received national recognition and a prestigious award for innovative programming from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). They were recognized for making free legal assistance available to help older Virginians in the Greater Richmond region complete and notarize vital legal documents such as Wills, Durable Powers-of-Attorney and Advance Medical Directives.

Senior Law Day, hosted twice annually at Senior Connections for area seniors age 55 and older and for adults with disabilities of any age, was among 44 exemplary programs chosen throughout the nation.  These programs were cited as creative and innovative examples of local programs that effectively serve older adults in a way that N4A hopes others will emulate and model within their own localities. The award was given during the recent N4A National Conference held in Denver, Colorado.

“We are truly thrilled by this important recognition. It gives deserved recognition to our long-time partner, Williams Mullen for helping to improve overall health planning, financial security and peace-of-mind for our fast-growing population of older citizens and their families who live within the Richmond metropolitan area. Williams Mullen has done much to promote this concept.  We expect this recognition to be a tremendous help in expanding this successful program,” said Dr. Thelma Bland Watson, Executive Director of Senior Connections, which delivers a wide range of supports as “Resources for Aging Well.”

Since its inception, each Senior Law Day serves approximately 28 individuals, each of whom have already completed and submitted a detailed legal questionnaire in order to qualify for an appointment. “They have the completed packet of legal documents they requested by the time they leave,” noted Attorney G. Andrew Nea, Jr., who created the pro bono legal service on behalf of Williams Mullen and trains those lawyers who volunteer a half-day of their time and skills to the effort.  Mr. Nea notes that these events also provide an excellent volunteer opportunity forUniversityofRichmond Lawstudents to assist the attorneys with these documents.  The students and attorneys enjoy working together and the events are great learning experiences for the law students.   “Senior Law Day has been very effective for focusing people’s attention on the fact that it is very important to get these critical life issues decided early, and to get in place the necessary legal documents for implementing these wishes, long before anyone will ever need to actually use them. I get a great deal of personal satisfaction every time I see the vanishing anxiety and the deep sense of self-accomplishment and relief on the faces of those who leave Senior Law Day no longer worried about issues that have bothered them, sometimes for many years,” Mr. Nea added.

The next Senior Law Day will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at Senior Connections, 24 East Cary Street, Richmond.  More information about Senior Law Day at Senior Connections is available from Patricia Giesen, Special Projects Coordinator, at (804) 343-3059, or by emailing her at pgiesen@yourraaa.org.