ABSTRACT
Access to an attorney is critical to all older adults for many reasons, not the least of which are representation in legal matters, access to justice, education on legal issues, and help in developing a plan for the final phase of the individual's life. The variety of topics and the intricacies of many of the subjects involved in the practice of elder law illustrate the benefit of rural older people seeking the representation of an elder law attorney. Social workers, geriatricians, other health practitioners, geriatric case managers, financial planners, and others all serve as allies in the legal planning work of elder law attorneys. Rural areas are likely not to have an abundance of attorneys in the community, and it is even less likely that an elder law attorney would locate a practice in a small town, unless the demographics show a significant percentage of older persons in the community.
