Commented on a discussion 1/21/2010 at 9:59 am
Thanks for the support! It helps a ton, just to be able to unload the concerns somewhere! I appreciate the feedback.
I did connect with our Senior Services/Agency on Aging. Actually took
...Read MoreThanks for the support! It helps a ton, just to be able to unload the concerns somewhere! I appreciate the feedback.
I did connect with our Senior Services/Agency on Aging. Actually took mom in for an intake interview & that is where I got all the applications for reduced utilities, etc. She isn't a veteran, so those benefits aren't available and she has just a touch too much in benefits to qualify for Medicaid.
We don't have Angel food ministries here, but I do volunteer a day at our local food bank ( my day off!) so we get compensated in food, which has been a huge help. I also raise a good sized garden & have things canned so the food budget is about as low as it can go............and mom is eating better too.
The one area that helped mom is that she has my parents OLD house that they kept & now have it rented. This is owned by a trust, which is the decedents trust now that my dad has died. Because of this, that little dab of rent isn't included as moms income, so it brings her in under the wire for some assistance. If I could convince mom to sell the property, she would be in great shape...........as the rental income doesn't cover the taxes (and God forbid there is a necessary repair crop up!)
I have managed to get her real estate taxes lowered through our county, her property has gone down hill so far, it isn't valued as high as it was.............and we are waiting to see if they will refund her some money for the past 3 years, as it looks like she qualified for a low income Senior rate. All the reams of paperwork have been turned in on this one.
Seems like I spend most of my time looking for ways to close any gaps here, which isn't exactly true. My days are FULL and I guess I'm doing most of my brainstorming when I should be sleeping. The poor woman at our Area for Aging office calls me monthly to "see how I'm doing" and we both know it is a no win sort of situation here when I'm done recounting my month!
After all this ranting, I do need to say.............Mom & I are the best of friends and have always been so. We have a great time and only drive each other nuts some of the time! :) Life is just so different than I ever imagined it to be at this stage.