by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney Helen was serving a life sentence in prison. At age 85, she went before the parole board. Her kidneys were failing and she required dialysis twice a week. The parole board found her to be a threat to society because “she did not have firm employment plans.” At age 86, Helen died in prison. For more about Helen’s story read Tenacious: Art … Continue reading Seniors Behind Bars
By Jennifer Blanck, MiCAFE Network Coordinator Today is Valentine’s Day. Most people think of Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday reserved primarily for couples. Really it is a time dedicated to showing our love to those around us who we love and care about; our family, friends, classmates, or even coworkers. Our aging loved ones should not be forgotten during this time. Many may now be alone … Continue reading Valentine’s Day and Seniors
by Sara Jackson, MiCAFE Network Specialist When you go to the store during the month of February, you will see lots of red and pink decorations for Valentine’s Day. However, the red decorations can be used for another special event. That special event is American Heart Health Month. During the month of February, the American Heart Association raises awareness throughout the whole month to express … Continue reading National Wear Red Day
By Nicholas Goodman, MiCAFE Network Specialist For many, holidays in December bring joy and excitement. For those living on a fixed income, the social expectations for providing meals at family gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming. Here are some resources to make this time of year less anxiety-inducing: Feeding America has a network of food banks in the southern lower peninsula. You can search by … Continue reading Putting Food on the Table for the Holidays
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the fourth in our series on caregivers. In our previous post, we discussed the Durable Power of Attorney for Finances, Power of Attorney for Health Care, and the Representative Payee designation forms that can assist a caregiver with his/her duties. In this post, we will discuss the Living Trust, which can also assist a caregiver with handling … Continue reading Steps To Take When Becoming A Caregiver – Part 4
by Jadranko Tomic-Bobas, Managing Hotline Attorney The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that “[m]ore than 500,000 and as many as 1 million of the nation’s poorest people will be cut off SNAP over the course of 2016.” SNAP rules require all recipients meet work requirements, unless they are exempt because of age or disability or another specific reason. The work requirements have been part of the … Continue reading ABAWD Time Limits Waiver Set to Expire in 4 Michigan Counties
When it comes to eating a healthy diet, millions of Americans 65 and over face a double whammy: a fixed income, and rising food costs. Nationally, adults aged 65+ have an average annual income of $46,627, and they spend more than $5,500—or nearly 12%—on food. Additionally, this year those who rely on Social Security received just a 0.3% increase in their Cost of Living Adjustment. … Continue reading ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger
by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” The Beatles, in their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album in 1967, asked this question, half in jest. However, this question has significance for many adults staring down the road at their later years of life. Unlike the Beatles’ song which envisions a later life with grandchildren … Continue reading The Psychological Impact of Poverty on Seniors
In August, we posted about the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE). As highlighted by our post, the new ABLE accounts were not expected to be available for a year. Yet, on November 1st, the State of Michigan launched its the ABLE program and enrollment is now open. The ABLE program allows families and individuals to fund a special savings account for certain people with … Continue reading Update on the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE)
by Sara Jackson, MiCAFE Network Specialist October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this month and a few weeks leading up to the beginning of October, you will start to see a lot of bright pink items on the shelves in just about every store you go in. These items are to help bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many families are affected … Continue reading Breast Cancer Awareness Month
