Prairie State Legal Services is a nonprofit organization that offers free legal services for low income persons and those age 60 and over who have serious civil legal problems and need legal help to solve them. Prairie State receives special funding from Area Agencies on Aging through Title III of the Older Americans Act to provide legal services to persons age 60 and older. Senior citizens in that age group are served regardless of income or assets. Typically, cases in the project surround such issues as: (1) health care and insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid; (2) Social Security; (3) elder abuse and financial exploitation; (4) housing issues; (5) nursing home issues; and (6) legal assistance to preserve the personal autonomy of seniors. Project attorneys assist seniors in preparing Powers of Attorney or living wills and counsel couples when one spouse requires nursing home or home health care. As resources permit, a range of other services are offered.Prairie State serves 36 counties in Northern Illinois. Our office in Rockford serves the counties of Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago. Other counties within the Prairie State service area may be found at www.pslegal.org/psls-locations.asp.