TUCSON, Oct. 1, 2007 - Wells Fargo is bringing its Elder Services program - a unique set of financial, personal and life management services to help elderly clients - to Tucson and Greater Arizona.

The Elder Services program helps clients maintain their independence and quality of life with services ranging from paying bills and finding home help to managing commercial real estate and monitoring health issues. In 2004, the American Society on Aging awarded the program with an Honorable Distinction.

Launched in 1999, the program is part of Wells Fargo's Wealth Management Group and has locations in major metropolitan areas nationwide. In Tucson, the Elder Services Wealth Management Group offices are at 2195 E. River Road.

Client interest was a primary factor in bringing Elder Services to the area, said Don Romano, regional manager for Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group in Tucson and Greater Arizona. "As individuals age, wealth management issues, personal matters and life needs can increase in complexity," he added. "Our integrated service can address these changing requirements, which helps give our clients and their families peace of mind."

Wells Fargo's approach to Elder Services represents a major shift from that of traditional financial services providers. Wells Fargo trust officers take a more proactive, holistic approach to working with clients. The relationship begins with an asset and estate planning review. Elder Services staff members work closely with the client's attorney to address estate planning concerns.

An assessment of the client's current status, which gauges the safety of the home, physical and emotional health, current support system and social needs also is conducted. Working with healthcare providers and other partners, Elder Services can make adjustments as needed (examples include locating a home health provider, hiring a weekly cleaning service and arranging for home improvements such as reinforcing handrails on stairways).

Kathi Hanley, Elder Services trust officer for Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group in Tucson and Greater Arizona, noted that elderly individuals often have very different needs compared with other clients. "From a financial perspective, asset management and estate planning are central issues for this client group," she said. "Because seniors often live alone, they also value assistance with personal matters."

The elderly are frequent targets for physical, emotional and financial abuse, and wealthy individuals may be especially vulnerable. These issues make the regular check-in calls and visits by staff a significant benefit of the program, Hanley said. "During personal visits, staff members ask themselves a variety of questions: Is the home aide providing good care? Are the grocery bills accurate? Are furnishings and personal items in their usual place? Is the cleaning service thorough? Does the client's demeanor change when the caregiver enters the room?"

Clients' children - often "sandwiched" between concerns for their aging parents and their own children - also benefit from the program. Elder Services offers continuous, in-person support and can keep distant family updated according to the client's wishes. "Many clients are hesitant to discuss with their families issues like giving up their drivers' licenses, moving into a retirement home and planning their funerals," Hanley said. "We can help make these arrangements and begin important dialogue with their families, if they wish."

Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group offers a full range of financial services and products to help individuals and families build, manage, preserve and transfer their wealth. Wells Fargo Private Bank and Private Client Services provide teams of experienced local professionals who advise clients on complex financial issues, and provide them with investment management, private banking, trust and estate, insurance and brokerage services provided through Wells Fargo Investments, LLC. Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group oversees more than $250 billion in assets.

In Arizona, Wells Fargo has 14,000-plus team members and 260 stores. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $540 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the Internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the United States, and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody's Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, "AAA."

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