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GREETINGS FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | | | |
When President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law 60 years ago, he did so in honor of a proud American tradition:
to “never be indifferent toward despair. It commands us never to turn away from helplessness. It directs us never to ignore or to spurn those who suffer untended in a land that is bursting with abundance.”
These are our shared American core values and the values upon which we do this work of justice every day.
That tradition has now been broken. Cutting programs of basic human needs for older adults, children and families by well over $1 trillion and taking health coverage from 17 million people pushes those struggling deeper into despair and suffering. Most of us do not know that older Americans depend enormously on Medicaid (the low-income health care program) for essential nursing and long-term care, as Medicare (the health program for all older Americans) does not cover long-term care but for the briefest amount of time. The majority of Medicaid funds go to older Americans.
As we welcome superb new leaders to our staff and Board which you will read about below, we recommit to our critical legal, educational and systemic advocacy services impacting thousands of older adults facing abuse, homelessness, and poverty. We hope you will join us to say that growing old in this country should not be a time of hunger, homelessness or poverty. Most of our clients have worked all their lives, many more than one job, raised families, and contributed mightily to our nation and communities. We will never be indifferent toward, ignore or spurn those who despair and suffer. Join us. Your partnership to seek justice is more important now than ever.
Ever Grateful,
| | Standing With Older Americans | | | |
This month, through the signing of H.R. 1, historically devastating cuts have been made to Medicaid, the health care program for the poorest and most vulnerable Americans, and SNAP, essential nutrition assistance, relied on by millions. Indeed, the lives of millions of older Americans, families and children will be affected deeply.
Recent estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office between 10 and 15 million Americans will lose health coverage by 2034 due to the bill’s cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace coverage. 1.9 million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP to fight hunger, with the majority of beneficiaries being individuals under 18 and older adults over 55. It is estimated that nearly 144,000 Pennsylvanians will lose access to SNAP and 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage.
These unprecedented cuts to Medicaid will harm millions of older people in our country, including those in nursing homes, those caring for their grandchildren and other kin, those with cancer and other debilitating diseases, and others who worked their entire lifetimes. Due to the loss of funding from these Medicaid reductions, it is expected that areas with poor and rural populations will be deeply affected with hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities closing, unable to withstand this huge loss of funding. Older adults, who experience higher rates of disability, frailty, and chronic health issues, will suffer the most.
Furthermore, a reported 7 million older Americans are food insecure and experience a lack of access to nutrition due to disability, isolation, and other factors according to a 2022 Feeding America Report. This number is only expected to increase across the nation due to a loss of SNAP coverage.
At SeniorLAW Center, we remain steadfast in our work to ensure that we all have a future free of poverty, homelessness, abuse and exploitation, especially as we age. We recommit our commitment to the safety, security and well-being of all older Americans, particularly those in the greatest economic and social need.
| | Introducing New Leadership | | | |
Brendan Corbalis, Esq.
Director, Legal Services
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Roseanne Milanes, Esq.
Director, Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services
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SeniorLAW Center is proud to introduce the new leaders of our legal team and showcase the growth and exceptional talent within our team.
Beginning June 2nd, Brendan Corbalis, Esq. has stepped into the role of Director, Legal Services, in which he will oversee our entire legal team and legal services work. Brendan joined SeniorLAW Center in 2019, and previously served as our Director, Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services. Before Brendan’s time at SeniorLAW Center, he worked for the Legal Clinic for the Disabled as a Medical-Legal Partnership Staff Attorney. Before his legal services career, Brendan held leadership positions in the aviation transportation industry as an International Purser for United Airlines and a career on the stage as a professional Actor. Brendan holds a BFA from New York University, an MFA from Yale’s School of Drama, a Paralegal Certificate from Bucks County Community College, and a JD from Villanova University Widger School of Law.
“I consider it a great honor and an even greater responsibility to take on the role of Director, Legal Services,” Brendan shared. “I am proud to work for an organization which has a legacy of nearly half a century of serving older Pennsylvanians. I look forward to working with my colleagues, our partners, and our clients as we continue to build that legacy, standing as we do on the shoulders of all who have come before us."
Roseanne Milanes, Esq. has been promoted to Director, Guardianship, Grandfamilies and Victim Services from her position as Supervising Attorney, Victim Services. Before joining SeniorLAW Center in 2018, Roseanne worked with Legal Services of Northern California for nearly 4 years, serving the legal needs of primarily older Californians in the areas of elder abuse, landlord/tenant law, consumer law, Social Security benefits, and private pension benefits.
“My favorite aspect of being part of the SeniorLAW Team is being surrounded by passionate people -- it's contagious!” Roseanne shared. “I hope to share what I've learned from my mentors and keep learning from my colleagues.”
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HIGHLIGHTING OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS | | | Welcoming New Board Members | | | |
Sierra Applegate, Esq.
City of Philadelphia
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Carol Zachary Smith, MBA
The Beckett Life Center
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Stephen Stewart, Jr., Esq.
Stephen Stewart Law
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Zhao Li, Esq.
Archer & Greiner PC
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We are delighted to welcome Sierra Applegate, Esq., Carol Zachary Smith, and Stephen Stewart, Jr., Esq. to SeniorLAW Center’s Board of Directors, as well as 2025 Board Observer Zhao Li, Esq.
Sierra Applegate, Esq. (she/her) is a Deputy City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia Law Department in the Real Estate and Economic Development Unit. Previously, she served as a 2020 Board Observer for SeniorLAW Center through the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s Board Observer Program. In addition to her SeniorLAW Center Board service, Sierra serves as an Elected Member on the Executive Board of the Philadelphia Barristers' Association and as Co-Chair of the Public Service Committee at the Law Department. Sierra says that her commitment to SeniorLAW Center is “is rooted in [her] compassion for older adults and desire to have a positive impact on their quality of life.”
Carol Zachary Smith, MBA (she/her) currently serves as Executive Director and investor for The Beckett Life Center, a community center in North Philadelphia that supports the community through innovative programs and initiatives. She is also Principal of Global Synergies, LLC, a real estate development firm committed to developing and delivering innovative housing solutions that help low-income communities prevail over economic hardship. Carol shares that “I am involved with SeniorLAW Center because of its mission working with marginalized older people and the great work they do."
Stephen Stewart, Jr., Esq. (he/him) is an attorney, business and marketing consultant, and entrepreneur. As managing partner of Stephen Stewart Law, LLC, he has experience representing individual clients and businesses in matters that span a diverse set of practice areas, including criminal defense, civil rights, business & startups, employment law, and estate planning. Stephen previously served on SeniorLAW Center’s Board of Directors for ten years; in addition to his current SeniorLAW Center Board service, he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Temple Law Alumni Association and an Alumni Admissions Interviewer for the University of Pennsylvania. In 2023, Stephen was inducted into SeniorLAW Center’s Hall of Fame for his many contributions as a Board Member, volunteer, and advocate and many efforts to modernize our web presence and communication tools. Stephen is a proud supporter and ambassador of SeniorLAW Center. “With good health and longevity, we will ALL be seniors, some day," says Stephen. "We must support SeniorLAW Center today so that there will be an advocate for us in the future.”
Zhao Li, Esq. (she/her) is an associate at Archer & Greiner PC, where she assists clients in a variety of corporate matters, including entity formation and dissolution, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and financing and commercial transactions. Zhao has an extensive legal education and practice background in both China and America. She currently serves as SeniorLAW Center’s 2025 Board Observer through the Philadelphia Bar Foundation Board Observer Program. "I am motivated by a desire to make a positive impact in the lives of seniors, advocating for justice and equality for this often-overlooked demographic," shares Zhao.
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HIGHLIGHTING OUR ORGANIZATION & WORK | | | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Symposium | | | PA Representative Lisa Borowski | | | Left to right: Susan Nolen, Roseanne Milanes, Kalli Badolato, Karen C. Buck, Gabrielle Weisfeld, Nakia Norwood, David Shallcross | | |
Last month, SeniorLAW Center and Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County (DAP) hosted a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Symposium where attendees and partners learned about resources to address and prevent elder abuse in the community.
Held at the Delaware County Bar Association, this event was a robust gathering of aging and victim service providers. Attendees enjoyed a free-flowing conversation about resources and services for older adults who may face abuse and/or exploitation. We thank our excellent speakers and partners:
We also thank Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County (DAP), the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), the Delaware County Health Department, Media Food Bank, and Jefferson Health Plans for their participation in the Resource Fair.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, formally recognized on June 15th, is a global campaign to raise awareness of and voice opposition to elder abuse and neglect. SeniorLAW Center stands in solidarity with older adults around the world who are experiencing elder abuse through neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and mistreatment. Through our 11-member Victim Services team, supported by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, SeniorLAW Center works daily to ending and providing protection from abuse, advocating for broader responses and resources to fight this national and global health and legal crisis, and ensure that older people can live free of abuse and violence in their homes and communities.
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Life Planning for Spanish-Speaking Older Adults | | | |
On June 12th, SeniorLAW Center and pro bono partners Blank Rome and Exelon held a Life Planning Documents Legal Clinic for Spanish-speaking elders in the community. Pro bono attorneys and interpreters worked with SeniorLAW Center clients to draft a Simple Will, Living Will, Health Care and/or Financial Power of Attorney.
“This particular clinic focused on Spanish-speaking Pennsylvania seniors, providing Spanish-speaking attorneys and English-speaking attorneys, working through interpreters, the opportunity to learn about the lives and needs of our community’s Hispanic community,” said William Cruse, Esq., a bilingual partner at Blank Rome and a Vice Chair of SeniorLAW Center’s Board of Directors. “It was a smashing success! I personally helped an 85- year-old client obtain a will and financial and healthcare powers of attorney. Bien hecho amigos!”
Angie Escalante, a summer intern at Exelon who participated in the clinic, shared that “It’s nice to have the opportunity working with Exelon to volunteer and come help other people in the community and leverage my Spanish ability. It really made me and my team happy to see [our client] smile.”
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Housing for Everyone Grant from the TD Charitable Foundation | | | |
SeniorLAW Center is proud to announce that we have been awarded a $200,000 Housing for Everyone grant from TD Charitable Foundation, the giving arm of TD Bank.
Selected as one of just 36 nonprofit recipients from over 270 applicants nationwide, we are honored to be part of the Foundation’s 19th annual Housing for Everyone program, which has supported affordable housing initiatives since 2005. This year’s funding is focused on supporting initiatives to help homeowners struggling to maintain homeownership due to challenges such as rising property taxes, increasing insurance premiums, and costly home repairs.
Support from the TD Charitable Foundation will support our Homeownership Rights work, increasing our capacity to deliver critical legal services to vulnerable older homeowners and amplify SeniorLAW Center's impact across the communities we serve.
Philadelphia has some of the oldest housing stock in the nation, much of which is at risk of or currently falling into disrepair. Over 70% of Philadelphians aged 60 or older own their homes, highlighting an urgent community need for our homeownership services. The goal of this investment is to ultimately help more older low-income Philadelphians facing critical threats to their housing, including mortgage foreclosure, deed and contractor fraud, tangled title, and property tax issues, so they can age in place with dignity and grace.
Learn more about this grant award here.
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JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM AND OUR MISSION OF JUSTICE | | | | | |
