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Morristown Medical Center
Overlook Medical Center

Legal Resources for Seniors | Advance Directives | DNR | Elder Law Attorneys | Wills

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Health Care, Legal and Financial Resources

Most people want their wishes to be known about what type of care they want, who they want to be responsible for carrying out their wishes, or how they want their belongings to be handled should something happen to them. This information is relayed through various legal, health care and financial documents and resources, including:

  • Advance directive - is a combination of documents that tell your doctor what kind of care you would like to receive if you become unable to make medical decisions; it usually includes a living will and name a health care proxy

  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) - an order which can be included in a living will, that requests that health care professionals not use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you cease breathing

  • Elder law attorneys - are lawyers who are specifically educated to handle a broad aspect of seniors’ legal needs; often assist their clients with estate planning, wills, guardianship, planning for retirement or long-term health care planning

  • Living will - tells your doctor what kind of care you would like to have if you become unable to make medical decisions due to a coma, cognitive impairment or other illness from which you are unlikely to recover; it includes information on treatments you may not want, such as a feeding tube or ventilator for artificial breathing

  • Medical power of attorney or health care proxy - a document that allows you to appoint a person you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are not able to do so. It is important to discuss your care wishes with the person you select because they will be asked to carry out those wishes in the event you are incapacitated

  • Power of attorney - a document outlining a person (or persons) that you name to act on your behalf to handle your finances or property; many people also name their power of attorney as their health care proxy or medical power of attorney

  • Will - a legal document that outlines how you want your estate, including property and belongings, to be distributed after your death; it is possible to write your will yourself, however, most people choose to have an attorney’s assistance to avoid any legal mistakes

The Healthy Aging Program at Atlantic Health System suggests the following helpful resources to assist seniors with health care, legal and financial needs:

AARP Tax-Aide
1-888-227-7669

American Bar Association
1-800-285-2221

Caring Connections
1-800-658-8898

Community Health Law Project
973-275-1175 

Friend Advocate Program – Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey
908-352-8375 

Legal Services of New Jersey
1-888-576-5529 

Morris County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
973-267-5882 

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA)
703-942-5711 

National Guardianship Association, Inc.
1-877-326-5992 

New Jersey Department of the Treasury – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
1-800-829-1040 

Senior Cents – Family Service of Morris County
973-538-5260 

Somerset County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
908-685-2323 

Union County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
908-353-4715

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Morristown Medical Center
100 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-971-5000

Overlook Medical Center
99 Beauvoir Avenue
Summit, NJ 07901
908-522-2000

Newton Medical Center
175 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
973-383-2121