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Local attorneys gather to help you navigate the laws of aging

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Caring for an aging family member can be hard enough, let alone navigating the laws that surround it.

That’s why a group of local attorneys have been hosting the Elder Law Fair for the last five years; to give those older adults, family members, and care givers a chance to ask questions about some of the more hidden legal issues of aging.

This year focuses on the "sandwich generation," individuals who care for both their parents and their own children. Attorney Jeffrey Nieznanski says issues like handling money and  signing off on nursing homes can get tricky.

"The individual may just sign, not fully understanding what they're signing and then for there is whatever reason problems with the bill that ends up going to a lawsuit."

Hiring caretakers can also get difficult legally.

"You’re hiring people to care for your parents in your home. And then you start paying them and you may think of them as contractors but if you’re directing when they come to your house, how long they work, what they do, you're essentially an employer."

He said at that point you now have certain responsibilities under the law.

Nieznanski hopes this event inspires people to start planning for aging earlier, so they don’t run into problems when it’s too late.

"Advance directives like health care proxies are good topics - like Thanksgiving dinner as you're sitting down with your family say, this is what I would like to have happen I don’t want to have heroic measures keeping me alive."

The Elder Law Fair will offer one on one sessions with attorneys and free workshops covering adult guardian ships, caring for adults without families, estate planning and medicaid, among others.

The fair runs from 7:45am to 12:40pm Monday October 16th at Temple B’rith Kodesh on Elmwood Avenue in Rochester.

Nieznanski says they will be able to accommodate walk-ins.