Hands to Help Seniors

View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

There was a disturbing story today in the New York Times today about an increasing number of seniors being forced into using credit with extremely high interest rates to get dental work done.  One of the Clients that Hands to Help Seniors assisted with was a woman who checked into the hospital which then lost her dentures and refused to admit it.  They sent her home and she lost almost 40 pounds before we were able to come in and raise money to buy her new dentures.  Dentures and other dental work, unfortunately, is not covered by Medicare and many seniors just can't afford important work like crowns, root canals and dentures.  The NYT profiled Patricia Gannon, a 78 year old woman who needed $5,700 for a partial denture.  She told the dentist that she couldn't afford it, but her dentist had a pact with a loan company which gave her the money at a 23% interest rate, which would rise to 33% if she missed a payment.  She received yet another credit card from the dentist to get more work done, and her monthly payment now amounts to $214, about one-third of her monthly Social Security check.  "I am worried that I will be paying for this until I die," Ms. Gannon told the Times.  This is a terrible situation, particularly for those with dementia or Alzheimer's who don't realize the financial mess they may be getting into.  Also interviewed by the Times was Diane Koi-Thompson whose 87-year old father signed up for a credit card without realizing it when he went to the dentist.  "My dad had no idea he had a credit card, let alone that he was behind on it," she told the Times.  These predatory practices must be stopped.  If you would like to help seniors with dental bills, please click on the donate button on our web site.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.

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View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

The poor and the elderly have suffered so much through this government shutdown, with myriad public agencies closed, help lines shut down, and payments for some benefits delayed.  The latest group to suffer have been recipients of food stamps (the CalFresh Supplemental Nutritional Assistance or SNAP program here in California).  This time, however, the problem was with a third-party vendor not the government.  On Saturday, those on food stamps in California and 16 other states found their debit cards weren't working due to a system failure caused by Xerox.  Thankfully, the system is back up and working now, but how stressful for those at the grocery store!

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.

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View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

I've been writing on my blog about the progress being made on building the much-needed Veteran's cemetery on the old Fort Ord site here on the Monterey Peninsula.  It looks increasingly likely that this will be built.  Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill sponsored by Senator Bill Monning (Democrat, Carmel) approving a $1 million loan for the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery.  Assuming that the yet unnamed "mystery donor" who was to provide another $1 million once Brown signed off on the state bill comes through, the fundraising group should be able to meet the Tuesday deadline.  The members of the Fort Ord Veterans Cemetery Citizens Advisory Committee have done a great job of getting this done.  "We look forward, now, to actually designing the facility and lining up all of the construction documents," Stephen Jorgensen of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, told the Monterey Herald.  I do too, this has been a long time coming.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.

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View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

Many people have no idea the chaos which is being caused by the government shut down which has been going on since the first of the month.  It literally took an act of Congress to get the Department of Defense to start sending out death benefits again to the families who lost someone in one of the many military actions we now are facing.  The $100,000 seems like a small amount of money after losing a loved one.  But for those trying to bring up small children with little or no income, it makes a huge difference.  The problem is not fully resolved.  The Pentagon cut a deal with a non-profit called Fisher House Foundation, which will provide the money to the families until the government can get its financial act together and send out the checks.  "I am offended, outraged and embarrassed that the government shutdown had prevented the Department of Defense from fulfilling this sacred responsibility in a timely manner," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters in announcing the deal with the Foundation. The House of Representatives voted 425-0 to restore the benefits, and Congress is expected to as well.   That is only putting out one fire, however.  $6.25 billion in benefits due to more than 5 million veterans, troops, families and children of deceased military members will not be paid out in October unless a deal is reached in Congress.  "I just didn't think you would allow this to happen," Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told Congress.  "This is not a game."  How sad that we can't even pay our obligations to families who lost someone in battle while the government is now considering not paying Social Security, Medicare, Disability and other benefits just so it can pay looming interest payments.  One of our Platinum Sponsors, Family inHome Caregiving, provides caregiving services which are paid for by the Veterans Administration and wonders what the fate of people under that benefit system will be.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.

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View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

I've been writing on my blog about the remarkable progress being made in bringing a much-needed Veterans cemetery to the Monterey Peninsula.  It looks like all of the pieces are falling into place to raise the needed funds by October 15 in order to make development of the old Fort Ord site a reality.  Yesterday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved putting up a 7.24 acre parcel for collateral so that the David & Lucile Packard Foundation can issue a much needed loan towards the Central Coast State Veteran's Cemetery.  Ted Belestreri, CEO of Cannery Row Company is also loaning $150,000 while the Packard Foundation will grant $100,000 outright in addition to the loan.  Thanks to these generous folks for helping this great cause.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.

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