With the guidance and orders that have been put in place throughout the state and locally, LAS has made the decision to postpone the Elder Abuse Conference set for May 12th. While this is a disappointment for the agency, it is clearly necessary and required to ensure everyone’s safety. 

While we are hopeful that we will be able to reschedule the Conference to a later date, we can’t confirm that that will be possible at this time.  Although we hope that attendees will bear with us, we are happy to issue refunds now to anyone who has registered so far. You can request a refund through Eventbrite or by sending an email to conference@lashicap.org.   

We will be sure to keep you updated in the coming weeks, to let you know either way whether we have been able to reschedule the Conference.  If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to receive updates about the Conference, please email conference@lashicap.org and include your preferred name.

Thank you for your understanding and patience in this process!  LAS is committed to the safety of older adults and the community that serves them.

Thank you to The Rotary Club of Oakland and especially to their Community Services Committee, for a $2,500 grant awarded on March 6 to Legal Assistance for Seniors (LAS)! Funds will be used to purchase laptops for improving the Medicare counseling provided by LAS’ Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP).

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new app that gives consumers a modernized Medicare experience with direct access on a mobile device to some of the most-used content on Medicare.gov.

The new “What’s Covered” app lets people with Original Medicare, caregivers and others quickly see whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service. Consumers can now use their mobile device to more easily get accurate, consistent Original Medicare coverage information in the doctor’s office, the hospital, or anywhere else they use their mobile device.

The What’s Covered app is available for free in both Google Play and the Apple App Store. The app is available in Google Play at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.medicare.coverage, and is available in the Apple App Store at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whats-covered/id1444143600?mt=8.

See the Medicare website for more information.

LAS makes the front page of the East Bay Times and The Mercury News. To read the incredible story of help and hope, click here.
Thank you to the partnership of the Bay Area News Group and the Contra Costa Crisis Center for making this possible through the annual Share the Spirit program.

Watch Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley’s press conference regarding the rollout of new Medicare cards here >>. LAS’ own Jennifer Pardini, a representative of the nonprofit Senior Medicare Patrol, is one of the speakers!

LAS’ Executive Director James Treggiari will be presenting on “What Every Practitioner Needs to Know about Elder Abuse” at the Alameda County Bar Association on Wednesday July 12th at 5:30 PM.  More event details here >>

Medicare enrollees will be receiving new Medicare cards starting in April 2018.  These cards will contain new “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” numbers that will no longer be the same as peoples’ Social Security numbers.  This “Social Security Number Removal Initiative” is designed to better protect Medicare beneficiaries from identity theft, however any change creates an opportunity for scammers to target seniors and others for their own financial advantage.  Be advised, there is no charge for the new card and Medicare does not call enrollees for any additional information!

For more information, see the article on the California Health Advocates website – Beware of Scams – and watch this video.

Please report any suspicious scams to our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-855-613-7080.

 

Legal Assistance for Seniors’ Fall Fundraiser

Thursday, October 12th 5:30-8:30pm
Woods Bar & Brewery 1701 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94612  http://www.woodsbeer.com/

Come support and celebrate with live music, empanadas, and an open bar (beer and wine).  For a limited number of guests (first come first serve), there will be a walkthrough of the brewing process by the brewmaster.

Details to follow!

See this story from California Healthline.

We invite you to take an in-depth look at Legal Assistance for Seniors through our 2015-2016 Annual Report.

View or download the report as PDF: LAS Annual Report