Page 18 BEACON HILL ROLL | FROM PAGE 17 il Rights Movement—it was a lesson in courage, dignity and the power of standing up for what is right,” said co-sponsor Rep. Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable). “By establishing Rosa Parks Day, we honor her profound impact and inspire the commonwealth to refl ect on the ongoing struggle for equality.” Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said the measure will bring awareness and representation to the heroic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights Movement. “February 4th is the birthday of Rosa Parks, so it will be a great reminder to all those within the commonwealth to refl ect on the role she played in raising international awareness of the struggles for civil rights,” said Kushmerek. PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES (H 4937) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that would repeal a current state law which creates professional licensure consequences for anyone who defaults on their student loan. Under current law, a borrower’s state-issued professional or occupational certificate, registration or license can be suspended, revoked or canceled if the borrower is in default on an education loan. “I have been working on this legislation for the last three legislative sessions, because the current laws are potentially harmful to the more than one million student loan borrowers in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster). “With all of the uncertainty around the federal student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, now more than ever, we need to protect student loan borrowers and ensure they can continue their work and have the ability to repay their student loan debt.” THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 10, 2025 “Declawing is an abhorrent ID FOR LIQUOR PURCHASES (H 4131) – The House and Senate approved and sent to the governor a measure that would allow alcohol-serving establishments to accept all out-of-state motor vehicle licenses and Global Entry cards issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection. “This vitally important economic measure will support our restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues as they continue to fully recover from losses experienced during the pandemic and allow our out-of-state visitors to enjoy a drink, if they choose,” said House sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (d-Dedham). “A constituent of mine reached out regarding Global Entry cards, and how she had been refused service in attempting to use one to purchase alcohol,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville). “These cards require two rounds of interviews, one with Customs and Border Protection, and another with a Global Entry Enrollment Center. You must also provide your passport and one other form of identifi cation. Only after this extensive process can you receive the Global Entry Card, which includes the individual’s photo, full name and date of birth. Over 5 million people have gone through this process, and it feels unnecessary to bar them from utilizing this form of identifi cation in the commonwealth for the purchase of alcohol.” DECLAWING OF CATS (S 2552) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey a proposal that would ban cat declawing and tendonectomy unless it is done for the medical need of the feline. practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane,” said sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “This is another step in my commitment to protect animals in the commonwealth. As a state we have done far too little to punish heartless abusers and to push back against a weak court system that has too often failed to hold them accountable.” Montigny continued, “There are too many people who have committed horrendous abuses to animals that have been unpunished and are walking free to continue to do harm.” Supporters said that declawing a cat involves amputating the last bone of each toe, which if performed on a human would be equivalent to cutting off each fi nger at the last knuckle. They noted that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the physical side eff ects from declawing include both acute and chronic pain, improperly healed wounds, sudden loss of blood, impaired immune response and behavioral side eff ects include biting. “Declawing of cats does not improve the human-animal bond and often results in serious medical and behavioral problems,” said Allison Blanck, Director of Advocacy at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. “Banning this cruel practice, which is in essence amputation, will prevent animals in Massachusetts from needless pain and suff ering.” PROTECT CATS AND DOGS (S 2908) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that would prohibit the sale or transfer of any puppies and kittens under eight weeks old. Violators would be fi ned $100 per animal. When the animal is more than eight weeks old, the outright ban is lifted and replaced BEACON | SEE PAGE 19 Sa nir Sa Sa y nior y Senior Seni by Jim Miller 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 effects 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 find 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 off ering 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-and-put-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 fi nancial diffi culties, 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 310-5331996 for a referral or visit Help4srs. org/support-services-for-seniorswho-hoard. You can also find 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. ior
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