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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025 Page 19 Supporters of the hike said that this automatic system was approved by voters by a twoto-one margin in 1998 and has worked well for 26 years. They noted that there have been years when this system resulted in a pay cut for legislators. They said it is also important that this system takes away the power of the Legislature to raise its own members’ salaries and eliminates any accusations of confl ict of interest. Critics were quick to respond. “Statehouse elected officials should not be receiving an automatic 11 percent pay raise,” said Paul Craney, spokesperson for Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Not many workers in Massachusetts get that kind of a pay bump automatically. Legislative leaders set up a system in 2017 so that they don’t have to vote for any future pay raises. If lawmakers care about transparency, they should vote on their new pay raise.” Craney continued, “Before the Legislature accepts their pay raise, they should accept the results of the audit the Legislature ballot question. This legislative session should not start with lawmakers further enriching themselves and then rejecting the will of the voters. It’s a broken legislative system at the Statehouse and their actions over the next week will demonstrate how corrupt it’s becoming.” AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE DISCOUNTS (H 5133) — Gov. Maura Healey signed onto law legislation waiving, for six years, until 2030, a law that requires businesses and groups to have a 35 percent participation rate in order to qualify for group auto and home insurance discount rates. The measure permits groups with less than the 35 percent participation to take advantage of group rates, which supporters said will save members between 5 percent and 8 percent. The law has been waived since 1997. The 35 percent requirement was fi rst included in a 1973 law. Supporters said if the bill is not approved, insurance discounts for 322,000 vehicles and 142,000 homes in the Bay State would disappear on January 1, 2025 and consumers will pay millions of dollars more for insurance. “This bill will preserve access to more aff ordable home and auto insurance for Massachusetts residents,” said Gov. Healey. Reps. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn) and Tom Walsh (D-Peabody) sponsors of the measure did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on their bill. COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSES (S 3002) — Gov. Healey signed into law a proposal which would prevent commercial drivers from losing their licenses due to passenger vehicle offenses they committed prior to September 30, 2005. The Registry of Motor Vehicles recently notifi ed hundreds of bus and truck drivers that they were ineligible for commercial licenses due to at least two past major off enses, blindsiding many motorists who for years thought their infractions were behind them. “Over time, the relevance and predictive value of these older off enses has diminished, particularly for those drivers who have remained offense-free since,” said Healey. “In most circumstances, a commercial driver who meets the safety requirements of federal law should not be disqualifi ed from driving due solely to passenger vehicle off enses that occurred 19 or more years ago.” She noted her bill would remove consideration of pre-September 30, 2005 passenger vehicle offenses from the disqualification law, except for multiple instances of operating under the infl uence. “Our administration is committed to ensuring safety on our roads while also supporting the many hardworking Massachusetts residents who rely on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for their livelihoods,” continued Healey. “The RMV will take immediate action to inform eligible drivers that their CDLs will not be disqualified and will continue updating its regulations to ensure that drivers who have served disqualifi - cations for signifi cant periods of time will have a pathway to reinstatement.” VENMO, PAYPAL AND CASHAPP (H 4840) — Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that supporters say would put consumer protections in place for consumers who use payment apps like Venmo, PayPal and CashApp, while also leveling the regulatory playing fi eld for businesses in the banking and fi nance industry. Provisions include mandating updated regulations for domestic money transmission services, including licensing and compliance requirements; prohibiting an individual from engaging in domestic money transmission without a license; requiring licensees engaged in this business to submit regular reports on their fi nancial condition, including quarterly and annual reports; requiring all licensees to refund to a sender all money received for transmission within ten days of receipt of the sender’s written request for a refund unless certain circumstances apply; and allowing the commissioner of Banks to suspend or revoke licenses for non-compliance, fraud or unsafe practices, and to impose civil penalties for violations. BEACON | SEE Page 20 How to Help a Hoarding Parent Dear Savvy Senior, My dad has always been a pack rat, but since mom died a few years ago he’s become more of a hoarder. The clutter in his house has gotten out of control and I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions? Distraught in Centerville Dear Distraught, Unfortunately, hoarding or clutter addiction is a problem that’s become increasingly common in the U.S. It eff ects approximately 6 percent of Americans age 65 or older. The problem can range anywhere from moderate messiness to hoarding so severe it may be related to a mental health disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help you help your dad. Why People Hoard The reasons most people hoard is because they have an extreme sentimental attachment to their possessions, or they believe they might need their items at a later date. Hoarding can also be a sign that an older person is depressed, anxious or showing early symptoms of dementia. Common problems for seniors who live in excessive clutter are tripping, falling and breaking a bone; overlooking bills and missing medications that are hidden in the clutter; suff ering from the environmental eff ects of mold, mildew and dust, and even living among insects and rodents. What to Do To help you gauge your dad’s problem, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) off ers a free “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that you can download at ChallengingDisorganization.org. If you fi nd that your dad has a moderate cluttering problem, there are a number of things you can do to help. Start by having a talk with him, expressing your concern for his health and safety, and offering your assistance to help him declutter. If he takes you up on it, most professional organizers recommend decluttering in small steps. Take one room at a time or even a portion of a room at a time. This will help prevent your dad from getting overwhelmed. Before you start, designate three piles or boxes for your dad’s stuff — one pile is for items he wants to keep-andput-away, another is the donate pile and the last is the throwaway pile. You and your dad will need to determine which pile his things belong in as you work. If he struggles with sentimental items that he doesn’t use, suggest he keep only one item for memory sake and donate the rest to family members who will use them. You will also need to help him set up a system for organizing the kept items and new possessions. Find Help If you need some help with the decluttering and organizing, consider hiring a professional organizer who can come to your dad’s home to help you prioritize, organize and remove the clutter. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO.net) and the ICD (ChallengingDisorganization.org) both off er directories on their websites to help you locate a professional in your area. If your dad has a bigger, more serious hoarding problem (if his daily functioning is impaired, or if he is having financial difficulties, health problems, or other issues) you’ll need to seek professional help. Talk therapy and/or antidepressants can help address control issues, anxiety, depression, and other feelings that may underline hoarding tendencies, and make it easier for him to confront his disorder. To locate help, contact Helping Elders Live Productively (H.E.L.P.). This is a free education, counseling, and referral resource that helps older adults and their families who are experiencing hoarding, by connecting them with legal services, mental health assistance and support groups. Call 310-533-1996 for a referral or visit Help4srs.org/support-services-for-seniors-whohoard. You can also fi nd professional help through the International OCD Foundation, which provides a hoarding center on their website at Hoarding. iocdf.org. And to get help with challenging cleanup jobs, the biggest provider is Steri-Clean, Inc. (see Hoarders.com or call 800-462-7337), a hoarding cleanup company that has franchises located throughout the country. 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.

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