Berkshire Senior Online

ESBC’s Money Management Program

By Al Stumph and Deb Foucher

It’s no secret why Elder Services Money Management program is successful and growing all the time. Volunteers working in this program assist seniors like "Rita" and "Tom" to sustain their independence and control over their finances.

"Rita" is a 73 year old widow living in senior housing. Since her husband died she has tried to keep up with bill paying, balancing the checkbook, and tracking her finances. Nevertheless she acknowledges that she just cannot "get the hang of it."

"Tom" is a 70 year old who lives alone since his wife passed away. He is beginning to develop serious vision problems and short -term memory loss. Sometimes he just feels overwhelmed and has neglected to pay some bills. Now he is confused by phone calls and bank statements that he says, "just don’t make sense."

Money Management bill payer volunteer Ruth Wood reports, "It is wonderful helping these people. I look forward to helping each of my clients every month. I like visiting with them, and they like having the companionship. It’s wonderful to see the peace of mind that settles over them when they know their checkbook is balanced and all their bills are paid."

Ruth Wood has been an active volunteer with Elder Services of Berkshire County’s Money management Program for over 5 years. Ruth is also community volunteer in St. Stephen’s Church, Hancock shaker Village, the Berkshire Talking Chronicle, and Habitat for Humanity. Ruth joined the Money Management program because she enjoyed helping elders and financial work. She has 7 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She retired from GE Aerospace Group after 16 years and loves to play scrabble, read, do counted cross-stitching and volunteer work.

The Elder Services Money Management program assists income-eligible seniors with management of household finances. The Program coordinators match volunteers with elders who are having difficulty maintaining total responsibility for their financial affairs.

Volunteers bill payers such as Ruth work with elders like "Rita" and "Tom" who have the ability to direct the volunteers who help manage their finances. These elders sign their own checks and maintain complete control over their finances. The volunteer simply helps them to stay organized and to work with creditors, landlords, and others.

In the role of representative payee, Money Management volunteers also assist elders who no longer have the ability to effectively manage their own finances. Representative payee volunteers apply to, and are assigned by, the Social Security Administration (SSA) to manage the elder’s finances. In this way the payment of essential services is maintained on behalf of the senior. Representative Payees are authorized by the SSA only after a medical doctor has documented this need.

Deb Foucher and Marcia Powdermaker, program coordinators, report that in the seven years of Money Management’s existence, it has grown tenfold. The program now serves seniors throughout all of Berkshire County, relying on a staff of more than 79 volunteers who each devote two to three hours a month helping seniors manage their finances. Last year 2600 hours of service were donated by 79 trained, insured, and supervised volunteers.

Deb Foucher smiles broadly when she says, "Having the opportunity to be a coordinator for this wonderful program is so satisfying. The dedication of the volunteers is a great witness to the basic goodness of people. Not only do they help seniors with their finances but they offer participants a source of companionship that sometimes would otherwise be nonexistent."

Marcia Powdermaker adds, "It is a great pleasure to see when a relationship solidifies between client and volunteer. We are giving elders more than someone who is just helping them to write a check."

The Money Management program helps seniors use the resources they have to meet their needs and helps relieve their anxieties about keeping track of all their obligations. Anyone wishing more information, or to become a volunteer may contact Deb or Marcia at Elder Services, 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.