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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 18, 2022 Page 17 Malden Cares Street Team returning to the Orange Line A s the Warming Center Winter Program draws to a close, Mayor Gary Christenson recently announced that the Malden Cares Street Team will once again be back at the Malden MBTA Station, Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. beginning Monday, April 4. For the entire month of April, the recovery coaches will be working out of the Malden Public Schools Food Truck. Beginning Monday, May 2, Malden Cares will be at the MBTA Station seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Malden Cares Pilot Program, which successfully debuted last year, has been funded for two full years. Recovery coaches will be on-site with the goal of engaging residents to help provide outreach, education, recovery services and support for substance use disorder as well as assistance with food insecurity and homelessCELEBRATES | FROM PAGE 17 ing health. “Our program also provides connections to home and community-based services that can support independence and overall well-being. We deliver 3,000 meals a day to our 11 communities and have 15 meal sites,” says Fitzgerald. “My favorite dish is the Boulet [Haitian Meatballs]. It reminds a y avvy S iorenniiooro a ness. There will be a resource table, snacks, water and printed materials. To bring these vital services to more people in other areas of the city, one night a week a few members of the Malden Cares Street Team will set up in a different location around the city off ering the same services. This is an eff ort to bring these services to more people in need. During the months of July and August, “slush nights” will be held two nights a month in a location to be determined, and me of my childhood and how my mom used to make them. I am excited whenever they are on the menu,” said Meals on Wheels consumer Marie Gabrielle Gattereau. For 50 years, senior nutrition services have helped create healthy, strong communities where all members can fl ourish regardless of their age. That is why MVES proudly recognizfree slush will be handed out to residents. Members of the Malden Cares Initiative, Malden Overcoming Addiction and the Opioid Task Force, led by City of Malden Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley and Mass General Brigham Certifi ed Addictions Recovery Coach Dawna Aiello, are leading these eff orts. For more information on Malden Cares or Malden Overcoming Addiction, please call 781838-2203. es this milestone anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program and its tremendous impact on the health and well-being of older adults in the community. Together, MVES looks forward to another 50 years and beyond! Learn more about the MVES nutrition program and services by calling 781-324-7705 or visiting mves.org. OPEN JOB POSTING – PLUMBER/MECHANIC The Malden Housing Authority (MHA) is seeking to fill one (1) Plumber/Mechanic position to work at MHA’s federal and state assisted public housing developments. This full-time, forty (40) hour/week position will pay the wage rate published by the MA Department of Labor Standards Annually, currently between $41.03 - $45.77/hour, with vacation/personal/sick time benefits paid in accordance with MHA’s Personnel Policy. The Plumber/Mechanic is also a Member of the Malden Retirement Board which is overseen by the MA Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission. The Plumber/Mechanic performs all the duties of a Maintenance Mechanic while also performing journeyman-level plumbing maintenance maintaining buildings and related structures applying plumbing techniques and using plumbing tools to install, repair, maintain and/or alter sanitary fixtures, waste lines, plumbing fixtures, heating units and boilers, hot water tanks, sprinkler systems and other components of heating, water supply and waste disposal systems. A valid Massachusetts Journeyman or better plumber’s license with experience in electrical heating controls is required. To Apply: Send cover letter and resume inclusive of work and personal references to: rcampillo@maldenhousing.org Applicants must submit required documents by March 31, 2022. For a complete job description please see: http://www.maldenhousing.org/contact-malden-housing-authority/pages/human-resources-employment The Malden Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug and Smoke-Free Workplace March 18, 2022 avvyavvy iori Can’t Get Up Dear Can’t, Yes, Medicare does indeed provide some coverage for lift chairs, provided your doctor prescribes it for a medical reason, but they won’t cover the entire cost of the chair. Medicare will only pay for the motorized lifting mechanism, which is considered durable medical equipment (DME), and is covered under Part B. The other parts of the chair – the frame, cushioning, and upholstery – are not covered. Here are a few more details you should know. What Is a Lift Chair? First, for those who aren’t familiar with them, lift chairs, which look like traditional recliners, have motorized lift mechanisms built in that aid with standing up and sitting down for people with limited mobility. With the push of a button, a lift chair hoists a person from sitting to a position where they can comfortably stand up. It also works in reverse to help a person gently take a sitting position. Medicare Coverage Requirements If you’re a Medicare benefi ciary, to fi nd out if you qualify for coverage, you’ll need to get a prescription and a “Certifi cate of Medical Necessity” from your doctor that indicates your need for a lift chair. The conditions you’ll need to meet include: • That you have severe arthritis of the hip or knee, or a severe neuromuscular disease. • That you can’t stand up on your own from a regular chair. • Once standing, you can walk independently or with the aid of a walker or cane. • That you do not reside within a skilled nursing facility, hospice or nursing home facility. You’ll also need to purchase your lift chair from an equipment supplier that’s enrolled in Medicare. To fi nd and compare Medicare approved suppliers in your area go to Medicare.gov/medical-equipment-suppliers, type in your Zip code and “Seat Lift Mechanisms” in the equipment box. If you do qualify, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the approved cost of the chair’s motorized lifting mechanism, after you’ve met your Part B annual deductible. You, or your Medigap supplemental policy (if you have one), will pay the remaining 20 percent of the lift mechanism. You will also pay 100 percent of the remaining cost of the chair. You should also be aware that if you do buy your lift chair from a Medicare supplier, you will likely pay for the total cost of the chair upfront and can then seek reimbursement from Medicare. Lift chairs can run anywhere from $400 to $2,000 or more depending on the fabric, options and upgrades. The reimbursement is usually between $250 and $300 depending on the state you live in. Advantage Coverage If you happen to get your Medicare benefi ts through a private Medicare Advantage plan, they too provide lift chair coverage, but they may impose diff erent rules and will likely require you to see an in-network supplier. You’ll need to contact your plan directly for details. Other Helpful Options If you fi nd that Medicare won’t cover your lift chair or if you’re looking for something less expensive, there are assistive products you can add to your current furniture like the Stander EZ Stand-N-Go (Stander.com, $140), which has adjustable support handles that can be used on any sofa or recliner to help with sitting down and standing up. Another way to make your furniture more accessible is by increasing its height with “furniture risers.” These typically range from 2 to 5 inches in height and are inserted under the legs of your furniture. Costs range from a few dollars up to $50 or more and can be purchased at retail stores like Walmart and Target, or online at Amazon.com. 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. n r by Jim Miller Does Medicare Cover Power Lift Chairs? Dear Savvy Senior, Because of back pain and knee arthritis I’m interested in getting a power lift recliner for my living room that’s easy for me to get into and out of. Does Medicare cover them?

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