DECATUR, GA, August 20, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ --Each year, countless soldiers complete their tours of duty to re-integrate into civilian society. For many of these individuals, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plays an integral role in this process. The VA helps to jump-start the civilian lives of ex-military personnel with a wide portfolio of services in the fields of health and well being, insurance, counseling, education and career initiatives, to name a few. There are, however, benefits that have gone grossly under-utilized. Take elder care, for instance. Victoria Collier, a prominent lawyer and author in the field of elder care, believes that senior citizen veterans often get the short end of the stick. And she is determined to advocate for the disabled and elderly (and disabled elderly), who may be entitled to more than they realize—and more than the VA is willing to advertise.

"When people get out of the military, they focus on home loans, education... [They're] not thinking about being older, or planning for disability," said Collier during a recent interview with the editors at Cambridge Who's Who. Additionally, she noted that the VA is the second-largest federal agency in the U.S. "[The VA staff members] don't always know what they offer, and they're certainly not advertising it." Whether due to willful miscommunication, forgetfulness or a lack of organization, the effects of under-utilized benefits are equally devastating to aging and handicapped veterans. As a veteran and former healthcare provider, Collier understands this. In fact, she has made it her professional mission to aid such individuals through her law firm, the Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, and with her newly published book, "47 Secret Veterans' Benefits for Seniors: ...Benefits you have EARNED...but Don't Know About!"

Equally inspired by her military experience and her compassion for senior citizens, Collier established Elder & Disability Law Firm shortly after graduating from the University of Nebraska's College of Law with a JD in 2002. By then, she had already served in the military for several years and worked as a nursing home aid. "I [chose] my profession based on the population that I want[ed] to work with, not based on whether or not it [was] a popular subject matter," she shared. Drawing upon her uniquely broad and relevant perspective, Collier has since built her practice into one of the most respected specialty firms in Georgia.

Elder & Disability offers an array of services - ranging from legal assistance to social work - that include veterans' benefits planning, estate planning, elder and disability planning, life care planning, Medicaid planning, geriatric care management, guardianship litigation and mediation. "We help people preserve their quality of life and remain independent through the preservation of their assets," said Collier. Collier and her colleagues work with clients of all ages and address family and healthcare-oriented matters. Additionally, the firm caters to its targeted client base with convenient home visits. "We make house calls, so we are frequently out in the community with our clients," she noted as a distinguishing characteristic of the lawyers at Elder & Disability. There is also a social worker on staff to deal with issues that do not fall within the legal realm.

Besides providing legal services, Collier serves as an educator in veterans' benefits, giving nationwide lectures and seminars to veterans and legal professionals, alike. She recently compiled her most-received questions and their answers as related to veterans' benefits in a book, which she entitled: "47 Secret Veterans' Benefits for Seniors: ...Benefits you have EARNED...but Don't Know About!" Written in easy-to-understand layman's terms, "47 Secret Veterans' Benefits" guides senior citizens and their loved ones in their search for federal aid. The book has sold over 200 copies since its recent publication and has been quoted in The L.A. Times. It is available through Amazon.com and www.elderlawgeorgia.com. "The response I have received has primarily been 'I'm so glad I read this—I didn't know these things existed,'" shared Collier. "[This] was my whole purpose for the book."

Through her legal, educational and publishing endeavors, Victoria Collier has demonstrated herself to be a committed and result-oriented professional in the field of senior citizen and veteran care—and her work has not gone unnoticed. Named Cambridge Publishing's 2008 VIP member, she is a three-time recipient of the Georgia Super Lawyers' Rising Star Award and has been appointed by Georgia's Governor, Sonny Perdue, to the Georgia Council on Aging Board. She has also been entrusted to serve as an executive board member for the Georgia Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. Collier is a charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and maintains active affiliation with the National Organization of Veterans Advocates, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association and the United States Supreme Court. Moving forward, she will seek to establish another practice while continuing to build her professional reputation.

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