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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 14, 2025 Page 17 bill that will adequately address the long-term fi nancial stability of the EA shelter program, so was not a bill I could support.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://MASSterList/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 3-7, 2025. There were no roll Calls in the Senate last week. $425 MILLION FOR SHELTER SYSTEM (H 57) House 126-26, approved and sent to the Senate a fi scal 2025 supplemental budget that includes $425 million to fund the state’s family shelter system and make some changes to tighten eligibility. The vote was almost strictly along party lines with all Repubicans voting against it and all but two Democrats voting for it. The Democrats say the measure makes major reforms while the GOP says the bill does not go far enough. “From the beginning of the shelter system crisis, the House has worked to reform the emergency assistance program to ensure that it remains fi nancially viable,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why the House led the eff ort to cap the maximum length of stay, and to require job training programs for folks in the shelter system, reforms that this supplemental budget builds on. By creating stricter eligibility requirements, along with increased security measures, this supplemental budget is the latest iteration of the House’s continued commitment to protecting vulnerable children and families in Massachusetts in a fi scally sustainable manner.” “Over the past several years, as the population of the emergency shelter system has grown, the House has attempted to uphold the commonwealth’s right to shelter law while also being mindful of the long-term fi scal sustainability of the program,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “The reforms contained in this bill will ensure that right to shelter is maintained by further capping the length of stay and verifying eligibility, while also enacting stricter background checks on those who enter the shelter system to better protect the families who need these services the most.” “I voted against [the bill] because Massachusetts cannot continue pouring taxpayer money into the emergency shelter system without implementing real, lasting reforms,” said Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “As a former police offi cer with 40 years of experience, I know fi rsthand how proper criminal background checks should be conducted, and the simple CORI check outlined in this bill doesn’t even come close. Without comprehensive background screenings at the state, federal and international levels, we risk compromising public safety and failing to protect the communities we serve.” “Though there were some small reforms to the shelter system, they were only temporary and fell far short of what was necessary to address the problems associated with the program,” said Rep. Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton). “Without substantial and permanent reforms, many of which were proposed by Republican amendments that were unfortunately rejected out of hand without even cursory consideration, this was not a “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes BROADER BACKGROUND CHECKS (H 57) House 26-125, rejected an amendment that would expand the background checks that the state must conduct on emergency assistance shelter applicants by mandating universal criminal background checks that include criminal records at the state, federal and international levels; immigration or residency status; and presence on international or domestic criminal watch lists. “While the underlying bill requires individuals applying for emergency assistance housing benefi ts to disclose prior criminal convictions and calls for CORI checks to be conducted prior to placement, these checks are limited to crimes committed in Massachusetts,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “If we are serious about keeping dangerous criminals out of the shelter system, then we need to strengthen the background check requirement and mandate more comprehensive universal background checks that will disclose criminal records not only at the state level, but also at the federal and international levels.” Rep. Michael Day (D-Stoneham) said that the amendment was an attempted Republican “backdoor” to “strangle our emergency shelter law altogether and kill it from within.” He said the background checks the amendment would require would also check the education backgrounds of applicants, credit scores and fi nancial information. “Now we want to fi nd out the credit-worthiness of a young family applying for emergency shelter,” said Day. He sarcastically asked if this credit check was going to make the shelters and residents safer -- fi nding out what Kohl’s thinks about their ability to get a credit card.” (A “Yes” vote is for the broader background checks. A “No” vote is against them.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No REDUCE FUNDING FROM $425 BEACON | SEE PAGE 18 Sa nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop Dear Savvy Senior, When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-yearold father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving, not the disease itself. With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional tips that can help you. Watch for Warning Signs The best way to keep tabs on your dad’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with him and watch out for warning signs. For example: Does he have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffi c signs? Does he react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? All of these are red fl ags. If you need some assessment help, hire a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate older drivers. See Myaota. aota.org/driver_search or Aded. net to locate one in your area. Transition Tips Through your assessments, if you believe it’s still safe for your dad to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure his safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell him when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz.org/driving and click on the “Download” button to print one. You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety.com) to help you monitor him. These devices will let you track where he’s driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send you alerts to your smartphone when he exits an area, or if he’s driving too fast or braking harshly. Time to Quit When your dad’s driving gets to the point that he can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to him. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before he needs to quit driving so he can prepare himself. You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help him get around after he stops driving. For tips on how to talk to your dad, the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence offers a helpful guide called “At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and Driving” that you can download at TheHartford.com/Publications-on-Aging. Refuses to Quit If your dad refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and prescribe that he stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family. If he still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. Some states will automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while many others require retaking a driving test. If these fail, consider hiding his keys or you may need to take them away. You could also disable his vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so he can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior

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