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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025 Page 19 quire that in order to be eligible for benefits under the emergency assistance shelter program, an applicant must have resided in Massachusetts for twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the date of application. The applicant must also provide an acceptable form of verifi cation such as tax returns; a MA REALID; a utility bill, lease or mortgage; or pay stubs showing Massachusetts employment. The residency requirement would not apply to victims of domestic violence or to any person whose living situation has been aff ected by a fi re or other natural disaster that occurred in the Bay State. “The original Right to Shelter law was implemented more than 40 years ago to help provide housing assistance for Massachusetts residents in need, particularly pregnant women and children,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Over the last two years, the scope of the program has expanded to the point that people are coming to Massachusetts from other states seeking assistance, which is not in keeping with the original intent of the law. This amendment will restore the focus of the law to prioritize Massachusetts residents in need of housing services.” Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) said that we are talking about families with children and to place further restrictions on this program during the cold winter months is cruel. She noted that the bill already places more signifi cant verifi cation requirements regarding residency.” (A “Yes” vote is for the 12-month residency requirement. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Jeff Turco No REQUIRE REPORTS (H 57) House 152-0, approved an amendment that would require the Healey administration to report the number of families exiting the emergency assistance housing program each week because of a durational limit. “This data will reveal whether families are leaving because they’ve secured stable housing or due to the system’s time constraints,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Michael Finn (D-West Springfi eld) It will determine if current resources are eff ectively helping families regain stability in a quick and effi cient manner, or if future adjustments to the system are needed.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes RULING OF THE CHAIR ON ICE DETAINER AMENDMENT (H 57) House 128-24, supported the ruling of the chair that a proposed amendment that would have required the Executive Offi ce of Housing and Livable Communities to collaborate with ICE regarding detainers issued for dangerous criminal aliens, was beyond the scope of the shelter bill and should not be allowed on the House fl oor for debate. Rep. Marc Lombardo (RBillerica), the sponsor of the amendment said that the amendment would make it clear that we want these monsters off the streets and will take proactive actions to protect Massachusetts residents. He urged members to oppose the ruling of the chair so that his amendment can be debated and voted upon. “It is simply outrageous that this amendment was ruled out of scope as it pertained to the operations of the shelter system which was the exact scope of the underlying bill,” said Lombardo. “The reality is that the majority party realized it would be a terrible amendment for them to vote against so instead, they ruled it out of scope to prevent political embarrassment.” Rep. Danielle Gregoire (DMarlborough) supported the ruling of the chair that this amendment is beyond the scope of this narrowly tailored funding bill. She added that there are several pieces of legislation that have been fi led this session that will deal with this issue and the House can debate the issue at that time. (A “Yes” vote supports the ruling of the chair that prohibits the amendment from being debated and voted upon on by the House. A “No” vote is against the ruling and favord the amendment being debated and voted upon.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GOV. MAURA HEALEY ANNOUNCES SHE WILL RUN FOR Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop Dear Savvy Senior, When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-year-old 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 off ers 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. RE-ELECTION IN 2026 — In a radio interview on WGBH Radio (89.7 FM) with talk show hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, Gov. Healey said she plans to run for reelection in 2026. “There’s a heck of a lot more to do, she said. “And so I plan to run for re-election. I’m really proud of the record so far.” The Massachusetts Republican Party released a statement saying they were “confi - dent that voters will reject another four years of the HealeyDriscoll Administration and elect a common-sense Republican.” BEACON | SEE Page 20

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