THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 18, 2022 THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 18 Sy eninior y Senior eniorenior o by Jim Miller Daily Money Managers Can Help Seniors with Financial Chores Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any services that can help my elderly mother with her fi nancial chores? My dad always used to handle the bill paying and paperwork, but he passed away last year, and mom struggles to keep on top of things. And I don’t live close enough to help her on a regular basis. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, It sounds like your mom could use a good daily money manager (or DMM). These are financial savvy professionals that can help older adults who have diffi - culty managing their own day to day personal fi nancial aff airs. The types of services they provide typically includes paying bills, maintaining fi - nancial records, balancing checkbooks and negotiating with creditors. DMMs can also prepare checks for clients to sign, help older people organize bank and financial records, prepare and deliver bank deposits, gather and organize documents for tax returns, help decipher medical bills, and review bank statements in order to detect potential fi - nancial abuse or fraud. Where to Find DMMs Depending on where your mom lives, DMM services may be available through private non-profit elder assistance organizations or government agencies. These agencies often use volunteers to provide basic DMM tasks, such as bill paying at no cost. To fi nd out if this is available in your mom’s area contact her Area Aging Agency. Visit ElderCare.acl.gov or call 800677-1116 for contact information. I n addition to the non-profit DMMs, an increasing number of individuals and private for-profi t companies have started offering DMM services for a fee. Cost for these services varies by region but it often ranges between $25 and $100 per hour. Most clients need approximately four hours of services per month, but this too varies according to the complexity of the person’s fi nancial situation. The best place to look for a professional DMM in your mom’s area is through the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM.com), which off ers an online directory that lets you search by ZIP code. All the pros listed there have signed the group’s code of ethics. Some have passed a certifi cation exam to earn the designation of Certifi ed Daily Money Manager. Before hiring a daily money manager, however, get references from two or more of their clients and check them. Also, find out what they charge and what type of insurance coverage they have. Keep in mind that neither federal nor state governments regulate the DMM industry, so there is little oversight of these services. So before turning over your mom’s bills, make certain it’s someone you can trust. One other highly rated bill-paying service you should know about that’s specifically designed for older adults and caregivers is SilverBills (SilverBills. com). Available nationwide, this is a secure concierge bill management service that will manage your mom’s bills and pay them on her behalf, on-time and correctly, for a fl at fee of $50 per month. If you opt for this service, your mom will be paired with an account manager who will communicate and work with her over the phone, or through email, text or mail (her preference) – no computer is required. SilverBills also reviews all bills for errors and fraud and provides monthly statements showing the date, amount and manner of each payment. 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. Food pantry prepares for Thanksgiving Debora de Paula Hoyle, Administrative Assistant at the Cliftondale Congregational Church, submitted the following announcement on behalf of the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, which operates with a team of volunteers out of the church basement each Friday: “Every year the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry provides the local community with Thanksgiving meals that include a frozen turkey, fresh produce, dessert, and Thanksgiving staples like cranberry sauce, gravy, and stuffi ng. Last year, we served over 70 families with full meals and anticipate potentially serving more this year with the increasing cost of groceries. “We welcome anyone in need to register to receive a Thanksgiving meal on Fridays from 9:30-11 a.m. between now and Friday, November 11. Pick up information will be provided upon registering. “We also count on the generosity of the community. We are seeking donations of non-perishable food items (please no frozen or refrigerated items), grocery store gift cards, and fi nancial contributions. Deliveries may be brought to the side door of the Cliftondale Congregational Church (the driveway between the church and the MEG building) on any Friday morning through Nov. to come together in community,” he says. Page 19 11 between 8-11 a.m. “The Food Pantry will be closed on Friday, Nov. 25 in observance of Thanksgiving.” “P.S. The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is an all-volunteer, collaborative, non-profi t, religious organization [comprised] of the town’s churches and community members; donations are tax deductible. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that our neighbors in need enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving! For more information, please contact 781 233 2663, or email cliftondalecc.org.” If you would like to volunteer or donate to the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, please contact Pastor Joe Hoyle, Executive Director, at offi ce@clindalecc.org or 781233-2663. The Food Pantry is open every Friday from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m., distributing prepackaged groceries (including meat and produce) at 50 Essex St. Wreaths Across America On Dec. 17 at noon, the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is sponsoring their second Wreaths Across America event, helping both Riverside Cemetery and the Old Burying Ground Cemetery to remember and honor veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. To sponsor your wreath(s) at $15 each or to volunteer to help place wreaths on December 17, please visit www. wreathsacrossamerica.org/ MA0136P or use the QR code. There will be a brief ceremony at noon to honor all branches of the military followed by laying wreaths on our fallen heroes. Invite your friends and family to join the DAR in honoring our servicemen and women. The cut-off date to order is Nov. 28. Last year was the Chapter’s fi rst year sponsoring this event, which had over 360 wreaths sponsored. The community really stepped up and the Chapter is grateful for all the support. However, there are more than 1,500 veterans’ graves in Riverside, and they are hoping that between the community and businesses there will be enough sponsored wreaths to cover all those graves this year. The Daughters of the American Revolution’s mission is to preserve American history and secure America’s future through education and proTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 21 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com 781-231-1111 HELP WANTED Earn $16. Per Hour Skate Guards • Snack Bar & Office Help Must be 17 years or older - Hours Can Be Arranged Open 7 Days Per Week Call Jerry at 617-620-9201 Located at 425R Broadway (Route 1 South), Saugus MBTA Bus Route 429
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