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Page 18 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Helping an Aging Parent Manage Their Money Dear Savvy Senior, Since my dad passed away last year, my 82-year-old mother has struggled to keep up with her bills. She’s proud and insists on doing things herself, but I worry she’s falling behind. How can I help her manage her finances without upsetting her? --Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, You’re not alone – lots of adult children step in to help aging parents with their finances. Whether it’s paying bills, handling bank accounts, filing insurance claims, or sorting through taxes, taking on these responsibilities can feel tricky. The key is to approach it with respect, organization, and the right safeguards. Here’s how to help your mom without stepping on her independence. Have a conversation Talking about money can be sensitive, especially with a parent who values doing things on her own. Start with a gentle, respectful conversation. Share your concerns and offer to help with her bills or other chores. If you have siblings, loop them in too. Knowing the whole family is on the same page can reassure your mom that everyone cares, not that you’re taking over. Get organized If your mom is open to your help, the first step is getting organized. Make a clear list of her financial info, including monthly bills like utilities, phone, cable, and credit cards; bank and investment accounts; company benefits like retirement plans or pensions; insurance policies, including life, home, auto, long-term care, and Medicare; and copies of recent income tax returns. Having everything in one place will make managing her finances much smoother for both of you. Locate legal documents Now’s also a good time to see if your mom has essential legal papers: a will or trust, an advance directive with a living will and health-care proxy, and a durable power of attorney for finances. If she doesn’t, now’s the time to get them in place. If she does, make sure they’re up to date and that you know where to find them. Simplify financial tasks To make life easier for both you and your mom, set up automatic payments for her bills and have her income go straight into her bank account. If her accounts and investments are scattered, consider consolidating them – it makes everything much simpler. You can also get her banking and investment accounts online so you can pay bills and monitor everything anytime, without digging through papers or making extra trips. Set up protections Protect your mom from scams or risky spending. A True Link Visa Prepaid Card (truelinkfinancial. com/prepaid-card) gives her access to her money but lets you set spending limits. Online monitoring services like Carefull (getcarefull.com) or EverSafe (eversafe. com) can watch her accounts, flag anything suspicious, and send alerts if something seems off. These tools give peace of mind while letting her maintain independence. Seek outside help If you live far away or just need a hand, professional services can step in. SilverBills (silverbills.com) handles bill payments, while a certified daily money manager (aadmm.com) can come by once or twice a month to pay bills, make deposits, sort through health insurance statements, and keep everything organized. Think of them as extra hands to make life easier for both of you. Helping a parent manage finances takes patience, respect, and tact. With clear communication, organization, and the right safeguards, you can support your mom while keeping her independence and peace of mind intact. Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 16, 2026 BHRC | FROM PAGE 16 with no path back into court. “We are grateful to Speaker Mariano for his leadership in support of healing for survivors and stopping future crimes, and we are gratified to see such strong support among voters for getting this effort over the finish line,” said Jetta Bernier, executive director of Enough Abuse. “We urge Senate colleagues to stand with the House and keep these provisions in the final bill.” INTEREST RATE ON UNPAID PROPERTY TAXES (H 3238) – The House in February gave initial approval to, without a roll call vote, a proposal that would allow the city council, town meeting or other equivalent city or town legislative body to change the interest rate on unpaid real estate property or personal property tax bills from the current 14 percent to “up to 14 percent.” The measure also allows the local tax collector or treasurer to waive interest fees on late payments and to set up a payment plan with the person who owes the unpaid balances. Supporters said the bill would give local officials more flexibility on these outstanding balances and would get rid of the cookie cutter/one size fits all current law. The bill has been tied up in committee since its approval in February. INCREASE TAX RELIEF TO VETERANS (S 1948) – Another bill tied up in committee would allow cities and towns to hike from the current $1,500 to $2,000, the property tax break for veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in exchange for their providing volunteer services to their municipality. In February, the House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to this bill that has already been approved by the Senate. Supporters say that veteran and senior work-off programs were originally designed to operate in parallel but while the Legislature recently raised the senior cap to reflect rising costs of living, the veteran cap was not updated, creating an unintended disparity. “Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown). “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “To be successful in their mission, a cultural organization needs an effective space to do their work. Through these investments, we are helping organizations address real facility needs, welcome more people through their doors and ensure that communities across Massachusetts continue to have places to gather, create, learn and connect.” --- David Slatery, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, announcing that four nonprofit cultural facilities will receive a combined total of $706,000 to help them remain in a state of good repair. “Taxpayers deserve to have plain language that details the tax and spending measures that will be on their ballots for this year’s general election. We’re pleased to provide this resource for taxpayers across the country.” ---Vice President of Federal Affairs at the National Taxpayers Union Tommy Aiello releasing a report that 24 states, including Massachusetts,will consider ballot measures in this year’s general election that directly impact taxpayer dollars, including income, property, sales and wealth taxes, along with billions in government borrowing. “We’re proud that Massachusetts is ranked number one in the country for the health of women and children. It reflects the incredible work happening every day to support families and make sure they have access to high-quality health care. But we also know there is more work to do, particularly to close disparities and make sure everyone can get the care and support they need. That’s why I’m working every day to increase access to primary, mental health and maternal health care, while also finding ways to lower costs for patients.” ---Gov. Maura Healey reacting to Massachusetts being ranked the number one state in the nation for the health of women and children, according to the America’s Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report. “Energy costs are putting real pressure on family budgets, and this plan gets relief directly to those who need it. We’re helping middle class families heat their homes, increasing support for our lowest-income residents and taking charges BHRC| SEE PAGE 19

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