Jo Rosen - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

For Immediate Release
October 5, 2011
Contact: Nancy Sween, Director of Communications
nsween@naela.org
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys to Recognize
Parkinson’s Resource Organization Founder Jo Rosen at
National Aging and Law Institute in Boston, Mass.
Award recognizes a passionate advocate for those with Parkinson’s disease,
their caregivers, and families.
Washington, D.C. – The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is proud to present its
2011 Elder Leadership Award to Jo Rosen, Palm Desert, Calif. Ms. Rosen has devoted more than two
decades to improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, and
their families. NAELA recognizes her significant contribution, and will present the 2011 Elder
Leadership Award on November 11, 2011, at the Boston Seaport Hotel during the National Aging
and Law Institute in Boston, Mass.
Ms. Rosen is founder and current president of the non-profit Parkinson’s Resource Organization,
which provides educational and emotional, group and individual, support to those making the
journey through Parkinson’s.
“Through her selfless dedication to this community and her leadership getting volunteers to
participate at the grassroots level, Ms. Rosen has made a difference to the lives of seniors and
others who deal with this debilitating disease,” said NAELA President Edwin Boyer, Esq. “We are
pleased to have this opportunity to recognize her achievements with the NAELA Elder Leadership
Award.”
Speaking of how she started the Organization, Ms. Rosen says, “The concept of the Parkinson’s
Resource Organization came about on an plane ride back from a Parkinson’s symposium.” Her
mother and then fiancé had both been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “I was the adult child of a person
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living with Parkinson’s and I was soon to become the spouse of a person with Parkinson’s. Where
was I going to go to discuss my issues and concerns?
This became the mission and the niche of the Parkinson’s Resource Organization. Advocacy,
education, emotional support, and respite for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. The
Wellness Village, a brand new resource on the Parkinson’s Resource Organization’s website, is a
user-friendly online destination connecting the Parkinson’s community with professionals who
understand Parkinson’s and who dedicate a portion of their business/practice to the care of the
Parkinson’s community.
The NAELA Elder Leadership Award recognizes the recipient’s life and work for the benefit of
seniors. The award can also be given to a senior (age 65 or over) who is making significant
contributions to society. The Elder Leadership Award includes a monetary contribution in the
recipient’s name to a charitable organization with which the award recipient has worked closely.
As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease. Approximately 60,000 Americans
are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year. The incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but
about four percent of people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before the age of 50.
About NAELA
Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are
experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of
all ages with disabilities. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists
lawyers, bar organizations and others. The mission of NAELA is to establish NAELA members as the
premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with
special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has members across the United States,
Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.NAELA.org
About Elder and Special Needs Law
Elder and Special Needs Law are specialized areas that involve representing, counseling and
assisting seniors, people with disabilities and their families in connection with a variety of legal
issues, with a primary emphasis on promoting the highest quality of life for individuals. Typically,
Elder Law and Special Needs Law address the convergence of legal needs with the social,
psychological medical and financial needs of individuals. The Elder Law and Special Needs Law
attorney handles estate planning and counsels clients about planning for incapacity with health
care decision-making documents. The Elder and Special Needs Law attorney also assists clients in
planning for possible long-term care needs, including at-home care, assisted living or nursing home
care. Locating the appropriate type of care, coordinating public and private resources to finance the
cost of care and working to ensure the client’s right to quality care are all part of the Elder and
Special Needs Law practice.