The Future of Senior Health Care: Law and Medicine
SMRLS' Senior Legal Fair Slated for September 22, 2010

The 4th annual low-income Senior Fair, co-sponsored by Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) and UCare, will be held at the St. Paul RiverCentre on Wednesday September 22, 2010, beginning at 8:15 AM.

Nearly 400 persons attended the 2009 Fair. This year's event will feature a panel of health care experts, who will discuss how changes in health care may impact seniors and how seniors can help themselves have independent and healthy lives. Panelists will include former Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner, Kevin Goodno of the Frederikson and Bryon law firm; Pamela Zimmerman, Information & Assistance Director for the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging; Dr. Abigail Holley, Geriatric Specialist at Hennepin County Medical Center; State Medicaid Director for DHS, Brian Osberg; and Mark Traynor, General Counsel of UCare.

Federal District Court Judge Donovan Frank will once again greet seniors, and about forty private, corporate, legal aid and government lawyers will meet individually with seniors and present nine different education sessions on legal/medical issues.

The Dorsey & Whitney law firm, in partnership with UnitedHealth Group and 3M, will also provide a special will clinic where sixty-five of their attorneys and paralegals will execute FREE wills "on the spot" for low-income seniors.  This year SMRLS is proud to announce that the clinic has been expanded to accommodate non-English speaking seniors.

Following the Fair's independent living and preventive care theme, flu shots will be offered and many seniors' health and community service organizations will be present with information about their programs.  UCare will sponsor a free breakfast, lunch and t-shirts.

SMRLS is celebrating its 101st birthday as Minnesota's oldest legal aid program and will provide a host of community education seminars on topics such as identify theft, housing and public benefits for seniors, health care directives and debt collection matters.  SMRLS will also feature a new publication of ten critical matters to consider in planning for long-term independence and other " self-help" written materials.

Persons interested in attending or learning more should contact Thomas Zera of SMRLS at 651-788-8451 or tom.zera@smrls.org

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