AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) Background
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-04 13:27:00.371618-04:00
AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) is the primary provider of free legal services and advocacy for older people in the District of Columbia. We handle legal cases for D.C. residents 60 years of age and older in a wide range of areas. We also serve as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and operate a number of law-related projects in D.C.
LCE was created in 1975 by a grant from the federal Administration on Aging to pioneer the use of non-attorney volunteers to assist older persons with their legal problems. Since then, LCE has continued to serve as a laboratory for determining better methods of delivering legal services. LCE has developed a number of innovative delivery systems that have been adopted by others nationwide. LCE works in close collaboration with the AARP D.C. State Office, especially in areas involving systemic reform.
Under federal law, each state and the District of Columbia must designate a legal services developer for free or low-cost legal assistance to older individuals. Legal Counsel for the Elderly performs this service in D.C. In addition, the federal Older Americans Act and District law requires that an organization be selected to advocate for the rights of older individuals living in nursing homes and board and care homes. LCE performs this function on behalf of older individuals in the District of Columbia, through its D.C. Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.
Please browse our site for information on LCE’s other D.C.-based projects.
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