Amy Perry

The Project

Amy will serve low-income adults, age 60 and older, in Central and Southern Illinois who have fallen victim to abuse or exploitation.

Many residents in Central and Southern Illinois live in poor, rural areas with little access to social or legal services.  This lack of resources becomes more dire when older adults face abuse and exploitation, which occurs with greater frequency than the national average in rural Illinois. Older adults must have increased access to direct legal services, which will be facilitated through the establishment of systems to ensure appropriate referrals from and coordination with agencies that interact with older adults.

Amy went to law school and developed a strong affinity with older adults at an early age. She was born into a community of family farming and country churches and completed ten years in 4-H and four years of Future Farmers of America. She continued this interest in her studies at Southern Illinois University School of Law, particularly through their Legal Clinic for the Elderly program. After 25 years of private practice, with an emphasis in service to older adults and low-income individuals, she welcomes the opportunity to conduct trainings and outreach to inform the public of the need for these services and the availability of these services, as well as the rights of older adults. She also looks forward to providing direct assistance to low-income older adults in a supportive environment that does not require payment from those who can least afford to pay.

Fellowship Plans

Amy will serve low-income adults, age 60 and older in Central and Southern Illinois who have fallen victim to abuse or exploitation. She will also educate older adults regarding their rights, legal remedies, and risks related to abuse and exploitation. Her project will also help increase appropriate referrals from and cooperation with the Illinois Department on Aging’s statewide network of local, private, and public agencies through outreach and trainings.