Attorney specializing in elder law shares advice with senior citizens

Senior Center in Medina offers many activities, chances for residents to stay connected

Provided photo: Medina attorney Andrew Meier, who specializes in elder law, spoke to members of Medina Senior Center at their January luncheon meeting.

MEDINA – Members of the Medina Senior Center meet regularly on the second Monday of the month, with a business meeting at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a speaker or program.

Meetings alternate between pot luck and a prepared meal for $8. The Feb. 9 meeting will be ham and scalloped potatoes, followed by speaker Brittany Dix from Hospice of Orleans County.

At the January meeting, guest speaker was local attorney Andrew Meier, who specializes in elder law. Meier shared a wealth of information for seniors on financial planning, such as the benefits of a trust, having a will and avoiding probate.

A will does not avoid probate, Meier said. He explained how complex and time-consuming probate can be.

He also stressed the need for every senior to have a power of attorney, regardless of their health. In the event of an unexpected illness in which a senior cannot act on his own, without a power of attorney the courts will appoint a guardianship and will likely go to probate. This can be costly and time-consuming, Meier said.

Another topic of interest was protecting a senior’s investments in the event a senior has to enter a nursing home or assisted living. Meier said it is never too late to protect one’s assets.

Another interesting note was the fact that a person in a nursing home is allowed $50 of their money to spend monthly. That figure hasn’t changed in 30 years, Meier said.

Anyone wishing more information on financial planning for their senior years may contact Meier at either of his offices in Medina or Lockport.

The Medina Senior Center is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday. Day-old baked goods from Tops are available to members every day.

A coffee and crafts session is led by Robin Wehling at 10 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month. January’s project will be making Valentine cards, and February’s will be St. Patrick’s Day shadow boxes.

The Orleans County Office for the Aging conducts a popular exercise class at 11 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month and at 10 a.m. the other three Wednesdays.

Euchre games have become very popular, with a full house nearly every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Games begin at 1 p.m. and the cost is $2.

Any senior is welcome to join the Senior Center for $10 a year. A raffle for awesome prizes takes place at the monthly dinner meeting, and only members may participate.

The community is reminded the Senior Center accepts donations of cans and bottles and they may be dropped off at the Center, and at Medina Bottles & Cans on East Center Street or JCo Returns on South Main Street and designated for the Senior Center.