The Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care will be holding their annual public hearing "Legal Aspects of Aging: Everything You Need to Know About Legal Rights, Protection and Prevention" on Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Big Flats Community Center, 476 Maple Street, Big Flats, New York.

This hearing will bring together individuals, family caregivers, health and mental health providers, law enforcement, elder law attorneys, financial institutions, and advocates who are interested in learning more about the Legal Aspects of Aging including legal rights, protections and consumer fraud preventions.

The keynote speaker, Art Mason, LMSW, is the Director of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program at LIFESPAN of Greater Rochester and is the immediate past President of the National Adult Protective Services Association. Mr. Mason will discuss one of the most prevalent problems facing older New Yorkers today as well as the findings and recommendations from the 2010 New York State Elder Abuse Summit that convened to discuss the Next Steps in identifying and preventing elder abuse.

The hearing will include presentations by three distinguished panelists who will discuss a variety of topics related to legal rights, protection and prevention:

• Rebecca Kelley, Senior Caseworker, Chemung County Adult Protective Services - The role of the caregiver in preventing elder abuse: how to recognize the signs and symptoms that your loved one may be at risk.

• Attorney John Maloney - Strategies for choosing reliable agents for health care and financial decisions.

• Michael Danaher, Office of the Attorney General - Consumer Fraud & Scam Preventions: how to recognize it, what to do if you are a victim and what you can do to prevent it.

Registration for the public hearing is 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. A hot continental breakfast will be provided. 

The registration deadline for the conference is June 11th.  To register please call 737-5520 or email Toni Swayze at tswayze@co.chemung.ny.us.