What is a Paralegal?

Is there an "older driver" in your life whose driving skills concern you? The following steps are recommended by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

• Stop. Don't scold or harangue a loved one about giving up the keys. The more you alienate an older driver, the less you can help.
  
• Look. Assess the older driver's behind-the-wheel skills as objectively as you can. Encourage him or her to take a self-assessment and visit a medical professional for a vision and driving-fitness check-up.
  
• Listen. Hear and understand the older driver's concerns. For many seniors, the mere thought of giving up the keys provokes feelings of dependence, abandonment, and virtual Imprisonment. Recognize those feelings, ease their fears, and assure them of your continued love and support.
  
• Act. Above all, agree together on a plan of action. It may begin with self-imposed limits, such as driving only on familiar, uncongested routes during daylight hours, and eventually lead to giving up the keys entirely.
  

A Paralegal is a person who has had training in the legal field. That person is not a lawyer but he or she can help you determine whether you need to consult one.  Often it is helpful to talk with a knowledgeable person before consulting a lawyer so you are prepared to ask the right questions or to answer the questions a lawyer might ask you.  Sometimes a lawyer is not needed to solve a problem.
 

"I've always been afraid that someday I would be kept alive by    machines.  The Paralegal helped me fill out a Living Will so that won't happen. She also helped me to give my daughter "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care" so she can make medical decisions for me when I can't . "

"I hired a contractor to repair my roof but he never finished the job.  I wasn't sure if I needed to hire an attorney.  The Paralegal helped me sort it out and look at all the options."

"My will was outdated and I brought it in for the Paralegal to revise and update.  She helped make sure my will expressed my wishes clearly and arranged for it to be witnessed."

"I was notified that my application for Medicaid disability had been denied. It is very difficult for me to leave my home, so the Paralegal came

to me.  She helped me with all the paperwork to file an appeal."

"When I had a debt that I was unable to pay and creditors were hounding me day and night, the Paralegal worked with me to find a solution.  Now I don't have to be afraid to answer the phone or look at the mail."

These are some typical situations in which a Paralegal can be very helpful. Eleanor Zue,  A certified Paralegal, is employed by the White River Council on Aging and is available on Wednesdays by appointment to provide services to individuals age 60 and older, their spouses and families.  Call her at 295-9068 to make an appointment. If you are not able to come to the Center, she does make home visits.

There is no charge for services provided by the Paralegal based at the Bugbee Senior Center but a contribution can help to insure that high quality paralegal services continue to be available to older Vermonters.  Services will not be refused or limited in any way if a contribution is not made.