Legal Services

The Vendor is required to provide to increase access and availability of legal services for county older adults.
- The goals of the Legal Services Program for older adults in Montgomery County are: 
•    To increase the availability of legal services to older adults (age sixty and over); 
•    To provide a full range of assistance including counseling, brief service & advice, representation and training on legal problems affecting older adults; 
•    To disseminate information on these issues; 
•    To advocate on behalf of older adults; 
•    To utilize and coordinate with the resources of local bar association and law schools in providing services to older adults; and 
•    To otherwise assist older adults in securing the benefits and rights to which they are entitled to restore older adults independence, choice and financial security.
- The Legal Services contracted provider will assure the expansion of access to legal counseling and advocacy for older adults within the county.
- Legal services should specifically be for older adults with the great economic and/or social needs including:   
•    Poverty 
•    Cultural minorities 
•    Language barriers 
•    Severe disabilities 
•    Geographic isolation 
•    Those at risk for institutional placement 
•    Alzheimer's & dementia related disorders
- Provision of information, advice, counseling and representation shall be performed on a periodic basis to older adults in groups and individually at senior centers, senior housing, county offices and other settings that serve to expand the availability of Legal Services in the county.  
- Topics to be covered may include: 
•    Consumer protection 
•    Landlord / Tenant problems 
•    Utility termination issues 
•    Long-term care financial issues 
•    Denial of service for common benefits and rights such as agency, Rent Rebate, Medicare 
•    Power of Attorney 
•    Wills and living wills (simple development)
- Communication: Assistance must be provided in the preferred language of older adults, both in oral and written communication. Auxiliary aids must be used to communicate with individuals with disabilities.
- Consumer Appeal:  Provider will formulate and make available a written Appeals Procedure by which individuals may appeal decisions which have an adverse effect on their ability to participate in the services offered by the provider (been denied a service, excluded from a service or terminated from a service).