Volunteers of Legal Service is proud to announce that the VOLS Elderly Project is now the VOLS Senior Law Project.
Language evolves and gives us the chance to offer new meaning. For some time, it has been a common question at VOLS whether the name “Elderly Project” has become antiquated and anachronistic. Today, the term “elderly” evokes someone who is infirm, declining, or unable to care for themselves. And while some of our clients do experience serious health conditions, over time “elderly” too often is seen as a pejorative in any context. Our society respects our elders, but do we offer the same respect to the elderly?
VOLS helps older New Yorkers plan for the future. This can include preparing for possible incapacity and the end of life, but our senior clients broadly range in age and circumstances. We do not want to suggest that their lives may be ending any time soon. In fact, we want to provide them with services well before they experience any serious decline. Our most difficult cases are the ones where our clients and their loved ones waited too long to come to us. These are the clients who are experiencing physical challenges so serious that they require home visits. They are experiencing significant mental decline, and we are forced to question their capacity to engage us and participate in their own planning. While we ensure that these clients are served and accommodated, we always wish that they had come to us sooner.
As the VOLS Elderly Project’s director, I had always felt that a change to our Project’s name was in order, both to better serve our community and to avoid offending anyone who may be turned off by the term “elderly.” Before going ahead with any change, I wanted to tread carefully. Our Project has been serving the community for over two decades. We have established a reputation and recognition that I did not want to squander.
There was a recent exchange on a local legal services email list that finally prompted us to act. A lawyer posted a question about his “elderly 72-year-old client.” Another lawyer responded by saying he took offense to the posting. He noted he is 73 years old, still practicing law, and he would never use the word “elderly” to describe himself. As you would expect from lawyers debating something over the internet, a spirited debate ensued. The consensus was clear that we should avoid describing clients as elderly. Instead, using the terms “senior” or “older” would be preferable if highlighting someone’s age was an important fact. Many of our clients and partners surely have had the same reaction to our Project name as these lawyers did. Words matter, and we should choose words that best express our purpose while causing the least harm.
In deciding on a new name, the VOLS team had a lot of great ideas, and we ultimately chose the VOLS Senior Law Project. The consensus is clear that we should avoid describing clients as elderly. The more neutral term “Elder Law” felt too close to our former name and did not make a clean break from the past. Instead, using the terms “senior” or “older” would be preferable if highlighting someone’s age was an important fact. Words matter, and we should choose words the best express our purpose while causing the least harm.
“Senior” feels right to us. When you juxtapose “senior” with “junior,” it says that this person is experienced. Seniors have lived and learned for decades, and they should hold a place of revered status in the community.
The VOLS Senior Law Project remains committed to providing high quality legal services that help New Yorkers with limited resources plan for the future, from ages 60 or older. Our free services empower our clients to make their wishes clear and to authorize the caregivers they choose. For more, visit: www.volsprobono.org/projects/seniorlaw.