The Alternative Press

If you are in an accident or have an illness that leaves you unable to communicate your wishes, do you have plans in place to speak for you?  Advanced care planning is making those decisions about the care you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself. 

On Wednesday, October 3 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Robert A. Bernstein, Esq., will be at SAGE Eldercare to discuss what you need to know and do about advanced care planning.  The program will encompass how to set up a health care proxy and living will, as well as knowing what the necessary health care documents are that can help protect your assets.

“Decisions about end-of-life care are deeply personal and something that is difficult to address, but it is very important for those decisions to be made in advance so that health care providers, family and legal professionals know how to proceed,” stated Robert A. Bernstein, Esq.  “When family members are faced with making tough decisions, it is much easier on them to follow guidelines that have been set up in advance and it also minimizes unforeseeable legal issues.”

 To register or learn more about the program, call 908-598-5548 or email education@sageeldercare.org.  The program, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 290 Broad Street in Summit.

Mr. Bernstein is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a member of the Elder Law and Disability Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.  He specializes in counseling clients with respect to providing for their retirement and managing their assets in order to protect themselves from creditors in the event of unforeseen health issues which may arise as they age.  Bernstein Estate Law is located at 55 Madison Avenue in Morristown, NJ.

SAGE Eldercare supports the independence, well-being and quality of life of older adults, their families and caregivers, through the provision of client-centered health, social and support services.  Founded in 1954, SAGE is one of the few non-profit eldercare agencies in the United States, and the oldest in New Jersey, that offers a broad and comprehensive array of services under one roof that assist elderly, often frail, adults to remain independent in their own homes. 

 Programs at SAGE Eldercare include: HomeCare; Meals On Wheels; Spend-A-Day Adult Day Health Center; GPS (Guidance Planning Support) Services; InfoCare free information and referral service; Fall Prevention Initiative; Home Repair Service; Grocery Shopping and Errand Service; Bill Paying Service; Holistic Living Services; Alzheimer’s and PREP caregiver support groups; Community Education; and Union County Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program).  In addition, SAGE has operated a Furniture Restoration Workshop, run by volunteers who specialize in caning and rushing chairs and refinishing furniture, and a Resale Shop for more than 50 years.  Both provide essential funding that supports the organization’s programs and services for seniors in the community. 

SAGE Eldercare serves over 6,000 people throughout Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset Counties, as well as across the United States.  For more information, call 908.273.5550 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.