Legal Services & Elder Rights

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What you need to know

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Wel​come to the Legal Assistance Page for the Nebraska State Unit on Aging!​​​​

The Legal Assistance program is a partnership between the State Unit on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, and Legal Aid of Nebraska. The State Unit on Aging provides oversight for the Title III legal assistance programs​. 
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​Getting Started​​​

What is legal assistance?

Legal assistance is funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA). It is for older Americans, ages 60 and older. The goal of legal assistance is to help older Americans remain independent, safe, and secure. 

Legal assistance can include, but is not limited to, matters such as powers of attorney, advanced directives, simple wills, and long-term care issues. ​​​​

Who qualifies for legal assistance?

To qualify, you must be age 60 or older and a Nebraska resident. Legal assistance funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA) prioritizes people with the greatest social and/or economic need.​ It is provided at no cost​.

Where can I find legal assistance? (Information on Area Agencies on Aging)

Legal assistance can be accessed by calling the ElderACCESSLINE or going to an Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). There are e​ight AAAs serving Nebraska. You should contact the one that is closest to where you live. The AAA map is color coded to indicate regions served by each AAA. 

View the AAA Map.

Visit AAA websites, call, or stop by the following locations:

​​Beatrice*

Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging

402-223-1376 or 888-989-9417

103 Eastside Blvd.

 

Gering

Aging Office of Western Nebraska

308-635-0851 or 800-682-5140

1437 10th Street

 

Hastings

Midland Area Agency on Aging

402-463-4565 or 800-955-9714

2727 W. 2nd Street, Ste 440

 

Kearney*

South Central Nebraska Agency on Aging

308-234-1851 or 800-658-4320

620 E. 25th Street, Ste 12

Lincoln*

Aging Partners

402-441-7070 or 800-247-0938

600 S. 70th Street, Building 2

 

Norfolk

Northeast Nebraska Area Agency on Aging

402-370-3454 or 800-672-8368

110 N 37th Street, Unit 101

 

North Platte

West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging

308-535-8195 or 800-662-2961

115 N. Vine

 

Omaha

Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

402-444-6536 or 888-554-2711

4780 S. 131st Street​​

​* AAAs in Beatrice, Kearney, and Lincoln have in-house attorneys. Other locations use the ElderACCESSLINE. 

What can I expect when I contact my local AAA?

Legal services can be provided through an in-house attorney or the ElderACCESSLINE. AAAs in Beatrice (Blue Rivers), Lincoln (Aging Partners), and Kearney (South Central) have in-house attorneys. These agencies may connect you directly to their attorney.

When you call or go to any AAA, they may complete a Nebraska Elder Legal Risk Detector. This is an assessment which the AAA completes online. Results are automatically sent to the ElderACCESSLINE. When the assessment identifies areas of need, Legal Aid will contact you.

AAAs may also discuss and r​efer to you other services or programs to help meet your needs.  


Nebraskans Ages 60 and Older are Eligible

You can call the ElderACCESSLINE directly at 1-800-527-7249. In Omaha, you can also call (402) 827-5656.

Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (closed from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.)
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the website for Legal Aid of Nebraska.​​

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Helpful Videos​

Elder Legal Services (30 seconds - English)



Servicios legales de ancianos (30 segundos - Español)

Fraud Prevention (video library)

The State Unit on Aging has teamed up with GetSetUp to provide hundreds of live online classes to keep you mentally, physically and socially active. Classes are interactive, easy to join, offered day and night, and free to you. Videos of past classes are also available to watch whenever works for you.
Learn more about GetSetUp!

Advanced Directives: Who will speak for you? (2 minutes - English)

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Helpful Documents

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Nebraska Res​​ources

​​Long-Term Care Ombudsman

An ombudsman works with nursing home and assisted living residents. They help answer resident concerns and complaints.

Visit: Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Call: (800) 942-7830

Adult Protective Services (APS)

APS serves vulnerable adults. Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation. This includes self-neglect. When abuse is confirmed, APS will intervene. Services will be provided with as little disruption to the client's life as possible. Whenever possible, clients receive help to live in the place of their choice.

Visit: Adult Protective Services 

Call: (800) 652-1999 or local law enforcement​

GetSetUp!

​The State Unit on Aging has teamed up with GetSetUp to provide hundreds of live online classes to keep you mentally, physically and socially active. Classes are interactive, easy to join, offered day and night, and free to you. Videos of past classes are also available to watch whenever works for you.

Learn more about GetSetUp!

Nebraska Attorney General: Consumer Protection Division

The Consumer Protection Division protects Nebraskans from fraud and deceptive trade practices, including, but not limited to:

  • Providing public presentations
  • Enforcing laws against false, misleading & undesirable sales practices
  • Investigating complaints
  • Consumer mediation

Visit: https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/

Call: (800) 727-6432

Nebraska Mediation Association

From time to time, almost everybody has a dispute. It could be with a neighbor, a business, or some other person or organization. Going to court is not the only way to settle disputes. A trained professional can help both parties find a solution everyone agrees with. These trained professionals are mediators.  Mediation does not force a solution. Mediators try to be impartial, neutral, and unbiased.

Find a local mediation center at: http://nemediation.org/

Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (Age Discrimination)

Age discrimination in employment is illegal in Nebraska. Generally, this includes private and non-profit employers with 25 or more employees. This also covers state and local governments, as well as employment agencies and labor organizations.

Some examples of employment areas where age discrimination can happen:

  • Hiring and promotion
  • Pay and benefits
  • Discipline (including termination)
  • Training and development
  • Relationships and associations
  • Freedom from workplace harassment
  • Retaliation for reporting issues

Visit: http://neoc.ne.gov/

Call the closest office: 

Lincoln (800) 642-6112
Omaha (800) 382-7820
Scottsbluff (800) 830-8633
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Statewide Elder Rights Coalition

Promotes elder rights advocacy; coordinates Older Americans Act programs under Title IIIB Legal Services; and Title VII Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect and Financial Exploitation. 

Statewide Elder Rights Coalition ​​​​

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National​​​​​​ Financial Resources​

National Resource Center on Women and Retirement

Offers workshops for professionals and older adults on topics such as financial education, retirement planning, and financial exploitation and scams. 

Visit: https://wiserwomen.org/​

Upper Midwest Pension Project

Has attorneys working to protect and promote the retirement security of workers, retirees and their families. Funded in part by the Administration on Community Living under the Older Americans Act Title II.

Visit: https://metroaging.org/programs/upper-midwest-pension-project/ 

Call: 866-783-5021​

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​Special Events

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Celebrated June 15

Elder Justice Training

Presented each August

 ​​

Report abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult

Call the Hotline at (800) 652-1999.

For more information visit Adult Protective Services.