By , Nicholas Balenger, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2020 Thanks to advancements in medicine and medical technology, Americans are living longer than ever before. As of 2017, the average life expectancy in the United States was 76 years for men and 81 years for women.[1] In many cases, individual’s capacity to make important financial […]
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By Nick D’Ambra, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2020 Elder Abuse and Its Prevalence in Skilled Nursing Facilities The decision to admit a parent to a skilled nursing facility (a “SNF” or “nursing home”) is not an easy one because even if a senior’s need for 24-hour care is clear following physical or cognitive decline, […]
By Bridget Verrekia, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2020 Participating in William & Mary Law School’s Elder Law & Disability Clinic during a pandemic is a very unique experience. Routine legal issues can no longer be handled the way they typically are, and new legal issues have come to the surface. It has been an […]
By Leah Kesselman, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2020 Most people spend about 90,000 hours of their lives at work—that’s three times as many hours as we spend eating and 10,000 more hours than we spend watching TV! [1] Of course, we rely on our paychecks to cover housing, food, and transportation, but regular employment […]
By Svitlana Makoviy, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2018 When I was seven, my grandfather suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. I vividly remember every moment of that day, because I was the one who made the 911 call. Grandpa took me to my piano lesson and as we returned home, I followed my […]
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Held by the Bounds of the Law
By Rachel Csutoros, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2018 Many people choose the to enter the legal profession to help people and further the public good. However, there are aspects of the profession that quickly destroy this admirable aspiration. I am learning this lesson during my semester in the Elder and Disability Law Clinic. This […]
By Jacquelyn Miner, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2018 In the clinic, we often hear from clients who know that they are facing the impending “doom” of being placed in a nursing facility for care. This seems like an ill fate for many reasons including the loss of autonomy, concerns about the quality of care, […]
By Brittany Midgette, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2018 Making an estate plan can be a difficult task. However, it is important to keep in mind that your estate plan is not only for you. Having a proper estate plan takes some of the stress off of loved ones’ hands because it means you have […]
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Facing Eternity
By Sarah Spencer, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2017 “Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity.” Hamlet Act I, scene 2, line 72. What do we do when it comes time to make a decision that entails facing those things which scare us most? Usually, our first instinct […]
By Taylor McGraw, Elder & Disability Law Clinic Student, Fall 2018 When I was a child my grandparents were my world. For years they watched and took care of me as my parents worked long hours. When I was fifteen my grandmother developed this routine storytelling and questioning, where she would ask, “What grade are you in?” […]