Establishing An Endowment For Elder Independence
Did you know that in Massachusetts if you are over 60, single, and have an annual income of $20,779 or more, you don’t qualify for government-funded home care assistance? Or, if you have a low income and are struggling with personal health care problems that limit your ability to do laundry, manage your prescription medications, or keep your house clean, you may not qualify for home care assistance? Unfortunately, you may not be considered disabled or frail enough yet to qualify for government programs, which require a certain number and type of needs to qualify for services.
MVES tries to respond to—and unfortunately must turn away—older adults in need of services who fall outside of the strict government guidelines. Some of these elders who go without services are one healthcare crisis away from hospitalization or nursing home care. MVES wants to do everything possible to prevent these elders from prematurely losing their independence. The agency wishes to develop a flexible source of financial resources to help those elders who do not qualify for government assistance yet need services in the communities of Malden, Medford, Melrose, Everett, Stoneham, Reading, North Reading, and Wakefield.
In an effort to respond to these elders’ concerns, the MVES Board of Directors has launched an endowment campaign. The interest from the endowment will provide help for the unmet needs of some local older adults. The Campaign for Independence hopes to raise $500,000 over the next five years to generate an annual income of $50,000. This income will be used to pay for a variety of services including medical transportation, homemaking services such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry, and adult day health care services for some older adults who do not meet state homecare guidelines.
If you would like to support the Campaign for Independence, please contact Jenny Vanasse, MVES’ director of development, at 781-324-7705. Your gifts, regardless of the amount, will help us reach our endowment fund goals and bring important services to local elders in need.
