Inspirations

Amy DoughertyAN ADVOCATE FOR THE ELDERLY

Bluegrass Elderlaw’s Amy Dougherty Was Called To Serve A Vulnerable Community. by Peter Chawaga | photo by Christopher Michael Images

As the plethora of lawyer jokes in circulation demonstrate, not every legal professional has the chance to use their skills face-to-face with clients, help them navigate the system or make positive differences in the lives of everyday people. Many lawyers prefer to work exclusively with corporations, regulators or legal texts. But some time ago, Amy Dougherty realized that she was not one of these lawyers — to the great benefit of a notably vulnerable community in Lexington. “I spent 22 years working in the General Counsel’s office,” Dougherty explained. “It was a job I loved, but I finally realized that I would regret reaching retirement without ever having actual human clients.”

When she became eligible for early retirement, Dougherty used the opportunity to continue her legal career — arguably make it even more challenging — by seeking out ways to fill that need. She found Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, a local civil legal aid office, and during an interview was asked if she could fill a need it had in elder law.

“At that moment, I recalled the vulnerability of my grandparents as they aged,” she said. “I realized immediately that this would be an area of interest for me.”

She spent three years practicing at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, before moving to Bluegrass Elderlaw, a private practice that focused on her newfound passion for the field. Now, she helps elderly clients prepare for their futures, establishing estate documents, outlining the legal details of financial and healthcare decision making and composing wills and trusts.

“Clients come to me with problems in their lives that they do not know how to fix,” Dougherty said. “There is nothing quite so heartwarming as understanding what their situation is and being able to rearrange things in their lives to alleviate the stress or concern... As I imagined private practice, I thought it would be very fulfilling as a career. I never imagined how fulfilling it is to help clients in their time of greatest need.”

Dougherty has had a client seek out her help over a fear that her husband’s dementia and the struggles of caring for him at home would leave her destitute. And she has helped two married clients establish a will that left money to their disabled daughter, while still protecting the government benefits she required. In addition to the memory of her own grandparents and a strong faith tradition, Dougherty seems to gather the needed resilience for this new calling from her own experiences with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition that required a series of surgeries when she was just six years old. Though she can walk short distances, Dougherty prefers the use of a power wheelchair and maintains inspirational independence and flexibility. Still, it’s a daily reality that can’t help but have informed her own dedication to serving others. “Because of my disability, I understand the importance of special needs planning to enable people with disabilities to reach their fullest potential,” she said. “I also think that I have gained patience and understanding for those who must depend on others for their daily life.” Dougherty also draws strength from Lexington, which she has called home since her family settled here in her last year of high school. She highlighted live musical performances at the University of Kentucky and the Lyric Theatre Cultural Arts Center, as well as visual arts exhibitions at the Artists’ Attic, as things that fuel her love for this community. And she is grateful for Fayette County’s Wheels Program, which provides door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities. “I love Lexington,” she said. “I am inspired by and grateful for my community.”

“I NEVER IMAGINED HOW FULFILLING IT IS TO HELP CLIENTS IN THEIR TIME OF GREATEST NEED.”

UNDERSTANDING ELDER LAW

Courtesy of Bluegrass Elderlaw To learn more, visit the National Elder Law Foundation: nelf.org

What is Elder Law? Elder Law specializes in several legal issues that affect aging adults, persons with disabilities, persons facing healthcare issues, relatives, and caretakers.

There are several sectors within Elder Law, including estate planning, probate and estate settlement, asset preservation, Medicaid, trusts, guardianship, special needs planning, and veterans planning.

How can an Elder Law attorney help me? Attorneys specializing in Elder Law are advocates for the elderly and their families. They take a holistic approach to common legal issues that people may face as they age, including issues regarding health, financial well-being, housing, and long-term care. Some basic Elder Law planning resources include Powers of Attorney, health care documents, a Last Will and Testament, and Trust agreements.

When should I speak with an Elder Law Attorney? As you grow older, your health care and financial needs change. Planning for the future makes transitioning to those changing needs easier for you and your loved ones. Elder Law attorneys can help make sure you have a plan in place to meet those changing needs.

There is no age requirement to speak with an Elder Law attorney. Elder Law attorneys help families of all ages. It is best to talk about aging while you are young so that you can be prepared for it.