Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

07/09/2026

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Clarence Richardson, on this accomplishment!

Please join us in congratulating Clarence Richardson, CAE, on earning his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential!

The CAE designation represents a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, and excellence in association management. We're proud to celebrate this exciting milestone and recognize Clarence's dedication to the profession.

Congratulations, Clarence, on this well-deserved achievement! 👏🌟

06/18/2026

This month, we spotlight MassNAELA member Ali Bers, the new director of the Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP). Part of Massachusetts’ legal aid network, MAP helps beneficiaries address coverage denials, prior-authorization refusals, enrollment problems, and other Medicare-related issues. It also provides education to Medicare beneficiaries and those who help them, including providers and community partners. A tireless elder law advocate, Ali transitioned from her role as Litigation Director at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, where she brought strategic cases that reshaped Medicare policy and defended beneficiaries’ rights. She’ll be sharing her expertise in presentations across the state this summer. We applaud Ali’s leadership and unwavering commitment to older adults and people with disabilities.

05/15/2026

May is Elder Law Month, and we’re proud to support our communities! Several of our members are presenting to local Councils on Aging across the state, and, in partnership with the Mass. Bar Association, we’ve released the free 2026 Elder Law Resource Guide. Download it here:https://massnaela.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Resource-Guide.pdf
Massachusetts Bar Association

04/07/2026

Our next Health Care Proxy Clinic is on Thursday, April 16, from 12 to 2 PM at the Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC) Central Library in Copley Square and Online. We host this event in partnership with the Boston Public Library to help community members sign Health Care Proxy forms and provide an opportunity to speak with volunteer attorneys about any questions they may have regarding Health Care Proxies. (Those who want to complete a Health Care Proxy form must be there in person.) Register at: bit.ly/HCPC2026

03/04/2026

In recognition of National Women’s History Month, we want to honor our president, Gina Barry, for her dedication to advocating for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Gina is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) who focuses her practice on elder law, estate and trust administration, and complex Medicaid planning. She is the Chair of the Trusts and Estates department at Bacon Wilson, P.C., where she works closely with families navigating probate, fiduciary responsibilities, and long-term care planning. She is currently exploring ways to make MassHealth-funded home care more accessible so that more elders can safely stay in their homes with appropriate support.

Gina was recently recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Legal Luminary. As president of MassNAELA, she is dedicated to increasing member engagement, expanding educational opportunities, and further raising the standards of elder law practice throughout the Commonwealth.

Outside of her legal work, Gina is the founder of The Joy of Jasper, a nonprofit horse rescue and sanctuary dedicated to providing lifelong care to elderly and at-risk horses.

02/10/2026

Black History Month reminds us of our need to serve communities of color, which are underrepresented in the legal profession and among those securing essential healthcare documents. To that end, we present on the importance of having a Healthcare Proxy and host Healthcare Proxy Signing Events at Greater Boston community health centers and the Boston Public Library. Our next Healthcare Proxy Signing Event is on April 16th, National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). The photo below is our team at one of our Healthcare Proxy Signing Events last year.

02/03/2026

Our annual meeting also includes presenting the John J. Ford Litigation Advocacy Award, which honors a member’s litigation efforts on behalf of older adults and MassNAELA. The 2025 recipient was Julie Low for her successful resolution of the Estate of the Late Leroy V. Nelson v. M&T Bank case. Julie is shown in the center of the photo below with Past President Erin McBee on the left and Clarence Richardson on the right.

01/27/2026

At the end of each year, our outgoing president recognizes one of our members for their service to and support of the chapter and its president. For 2025, that member was Kimberly Kelly, who has devoted time to various chapter endeavors, most notably as a member of our board of directors. In the photo below, Kimberly stands with her award, with Immediate Past President Erin McBee on the left and MassNAELA Executive Director Clarence Richardson on the right.

01/20/2026

Community advocacy for older adults is a core part of our mission, which is why we recognize a MassNAELA member each year for their efforts in advocating for elder issues at the state level. At our December annual meeting, we presented Lauren DeMatteo with the Deborah H. Thomson Advocacy Award. Attorney DeMatteo actively participates in the MassNAELA Durable Power of Attorney workgroup and has contributed to advancing legislation related to the Barbetti v. Stempniewicz case involving trusts and estate law.

Lauren stated, “I’m grateful to work alongside MassNAELA colleagues on state-level legislative efforts to restore clarity and support thoughtful planning for older adults and individuals with disabilities.”

In the photo below, Lauren stands with her award alongside Clarence Richardson.

01/15/2026

The Massachusetts Assisted Living Residences (ALR) Commission issued its final report Monday, recommending numerous improvements to health and safety standards at the state’s assisted living facilities. We applaud the Commission’s efforts, led by Senator Montigny and including MassNAELA members Lindsay Mitnik, Liane Zeitz, and Kathleen Lynch Moncata. See the report at https://www.mass.gov/doc/alr-commission-final-report/download
and check out our press release:https://massnaela.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Press-Release-MassNAELA-Applauds-State-ALR-Commission-Report_FINAL_1-14-2026.pdf