Socail Security Safety Blanket

Campaign for America's Future manager@ourfuture.org via bounces.salsalabs.net	9:42 AM (11 hours ago)
to me

Friend: This generation's chance to build Social Security is here. Where are you? Friend: The middle class is shrinking and our private pension system is failing. But we still have Social Security, right? Sort of. If you or someone you love relies on their earned benefits, you know how difficult it is to maintain a decent standard of living on Social Security. We can do better. Senator Tom Harkin has introduced a bill that says no to those who want to cut Social Security — and actually increases benefits by several hundred dollars a year. That may not seem like much, but for many Americans that's the difference between independence and poverty. Click here to tell Congress: Don't cut Social Security benefits; increase them! This bill won't harm the deficit. It pays for itself by making the wealthy pay the same Social Security tax rate as you and I. It's fair, modest and will actually build the trust fund. Take a few seconds out of your day and tell Congress to pass this important reform. Sincerely, Roger Hickey Co-Director, Campaign for America's Future

Pedestrian Safety

•
Although adults age 65 and older comprised less than 13 percent of the population in 2008, they were involved in 15 percent of vehicle fatalities and 19 percent of pedestrian fatalities. An older vehicle occupant is 18 percent more likely to die in a crash than someone under age 65. A more staggering statistic reveals that an older pedestrian is 61 percent more likely to die when hit by a motor vehicle than a younger one. The unique vulnerability of pedestrians and bicyclists on the road has inspired some state legislatures to pass laws designating pedestrians and bicyclists as “vulnerable users.” In the past five years, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Vermont have considered “vulnerable users” laws

cola 2012

3.6% cola Effective 1 DEC, starts being paid on your next check due 1 Jan 2012, probably paid on 30Dec due to holidays

Take 3.6% times the check you just got 1 Dec..

That will be the amount your next check increases..

Example 100% VA comp is $2673 times 3.6% = $96 2673 + 96 = 2769
Or $2769 next check
$2769..This the amount you will receive monthly for 2012, until next COLA is announced

1 Dec 2012 for 2013. If no COLA will be the same as 2012
They always are a month behind..earn it this month, they pay you 1st of next month
This applies to Soc sec, Mil Retiree, and VA comp

Visit to the Malden Senior Commuity Center

U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey, Malden Mayor Richard C. Howard, and Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard t. Leone Jr. addressed the crowd at the Malden Senior Center, according to a statement by Leone's office.

"Our seniors are the most deserving population and we have an obligation to help combat those crimes that specifically target them," said Leone in a statement. According to his office, instances of elder abuse has risen 15 percent in the last two years.

Markey committed his support to programs that members of the "greatest generation" now depend on, he said.

"After working to build this nation, we owe it to them to fight for the programs on which they rely -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security," the Malden Democrat said in a statement.

SINCE COMING UP SHORTLY MANDATORY FOR SENIORS

How to Get a Social Security Debit Card
Print this article

In the past, the Federal government mailed checks to recipients of
Social Security benefits, Social Security Supplemental income and
other types of Federal checks to the home address of the recipient.
Advances in the banking industry recently allowed those who received
checks to have the funds directly deposited in their accounts. The
Social Security has now introduced a debit card available to those
that don't have a bank account.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
1

Decide if you are eligible. The program is for those individuals who
receive government benefit checks from the Social Security
Administration but who don't have a bank account. Those that have bank
accounts have the option to elect direct deposit of their monthly
check into their bank accounts.

2


Determine if you are willing to accept the limitations of the program.
The debit card program is a special account set up for you to hold
your Social Security benefits. This account has a debit card issued to
the owner of the account that allows the owner to make withdrawals at
ATM machines and use the card at point of sale locations to purchase
all kinds of items. There are fees associated with the use of the
card. The owner can withdraw funds free once per month. Any further
withdrawals will be billed per transaction. The card may give you
quicker access to your money but will also cost you to use it more
than once a month.

3


Call the local Social Security office to request your card if you can
live with the limitations. Ask to sign up for the Benefit Security
Card program. They can process the request to have a card issued in
your name and sent to you. After the issuance of the card, direct
deposit will transfer your funds to the card's account at the bank
overseeing this program.


.

Read more: How to Get a Social Security Debit Card | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_2273568_get-social-security-debit-card.html#ixzz1QJzLRXi9--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior

Computer access @ Malden Community Senior Center

By Guest Blogger Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President, The White House

At the start of his Administration, President Obama identified transparency, participation and collaboration as the principles of an open government, requiring that government information and data be accessible to all citizens. To ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access, government agencies must buy and use accessible technology.

MASS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE RECEIPTS

So far this fiscal year, which ends June 30, Massachusetts has collected $676 million more than predicted.

states survey Medicaid recipients

States must consult Medicaid recipients because, the rule says, their experience is “the most important indicator of whether access is sufficient.” Federal officials suggested that to see how much difficulty they had in scheduling doctor’s appointments.states survey Medicaid recipients

In addition, the rule says, states should compare Medicaid payment rates with the amounts paid by Medicare or commercial insurers, with providers’ costs or with their customary charges. Another important factor, it said, is the number and percentage of doctors who accept new Medicaid patients.
Posted by Malden Senior at 4:39 AM

Senator Clark Malden Office Hours

Posted by Katherine Clark |
Where: 6 Pleasant St Ste 210, Malden, MA 02148
Date: Weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 9:00am–1:00pm
Next on: Thursday, April 28, 2011


State Senator Katherine Clark's Malden district office is staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-1:00. Please feel free to drop by or call 617-722-2016 for an appointment.

Features: Families, Open to All, Seniors, Volunteer
Website: http://www.katherineclark.org

State Budget Cuts

State budget-watchers say this year’s cuts will be painful. They expect the House to cut local aid and other vital programs even more deeply than Governor Patrick proposed. Children’s programs, mental health, libraries, city budgets, and a long list of human services will take hard hits on top of the hits they have taken over the last few years.

Why is this happening? After all, state tax revenues are gradually recovering from the worst of Wall Street’s crash. The state balance sheet should be looking better. But as we start to climb out of our state budget hole, Washington is pushing us back down. Federal stimulus funds, which saved vital services and jobs last year, have dried up. And now, Congress and the White House are slashing more of the programs that most of us use and which are absolutely critical for some of our citizens


Read more: Newton Dialogues: Fund our communities, cut military spending - Newton, Massachusetts - Newton TAB http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/archive/x528722978/Newton-Dialogues-Fund-our-communities-cut-military-spending#ixzz1KXu8TzOT

The 2010 US Census counted 40 million seniors in the US,

comprising 13% of the total population. Traditional media continues to dominate seniors’ media habits, but the internet is quickly increasing reach, expected to hit 56.0% penetration by 2015.

The 2010 US Census counted 40 million seniors in the US, comprising 13% of the total population. According to the data, baby boomers—the largest single generation in the US—will enter the senior set at a rate of one every 8 seconds for the next 18 years.

SENIORS OPINION HEALTH CARE LAW

Organizing Seniors: Moving the Dial


Reaching seniors with the truth about the health care law can be a challenge, but recent polls are showing a shift in opinion. Go to them and be prepared to answer specific questions.

Seeing benefits in the Affordable Care Act has been a challenge for seniors across the country. During the debate to pass the health care law, seniors heard a lot of misinformation from opponents of the law. Although combating these messages is challenging, public opinion among seniors is beginning to change. Last week, Kaiser Family Foundation released their latest tracking poll, which revealed increased support among seniors for the health law. This past month, unfavorable views of the law decreased by 7 percentage points and favorable views increased 8 percentage points. See the full report here: http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8166.cfm.

This change is only the beginning. With an array of different policies in the law, it can become difficult to generalize about Medicare as a whole when speaking the people over 65. However, there have been real tangible benefits already in effect for seniors, such as Medicare doughnut hole rebate checks and free preventive services in Medicare. Advocates have found that stopping by local senior centers, senior living communities, and social clubs is the best way to reach seniors and spread the message about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.

HOMELESS VETERANS MASSACHUSETTS

According to HUD and the VA, nearly 76,000 veterans nationwide lacked shelter on a given night in 2009 with about 136,000 spending at least one night in a shelter during the year. Of those veterans without a home, 57 percent lived in a shelter or a transitional housing program, while 43 percent lived on the street.

Nationally, 12 percent of all people experiencing homelessness were identified as a veteran. In Massachusetts, veterans account for 6.8 percent of the population.

GIM Post

GIM HAS BEEN MEETING PERIODICALLY AND HAS BEEN IN A STOP AND START MODE.
We now have two set dates for action
The group has an appointment set up by Judy Bucci for Tuesday June 1st
to make a presentation of GIM and their goals and need of the support
of the council and members of the community before the Citizens
Engagement Committee. We would need a lead presenter and backup of the
group in attendance . The meeting would be at 5:30PM before the 7
o'clock full council meeting.
GIM mini conference date August 7,2010 to be held at the Malden Senior
Community Center time to be announced
Their will be a network chain linking of all of the diversified
population and will include service groups and non profits
representing a broad representation of all ethnic groups
We are advocating for Voting Rights and Civic Engagement the all
encompassing Malden population
In order to have maximum Inclusion we are urging all Service
organizations Non Profits to join us with all their membership in
making --
Our organization has determined that our local group should adopt the
Memorandum of
OUR NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION and that we will bring it to OUR Local
city officials and out into neighborhoods with urging participation.
We hope to "spread the word" and have our various organization getting the word.
Government should be transparent. Transparency promotes
accountability and provides information for citizens about what their
Government is doing. Information maintained by the City Government is
a needed l asset. The Administration will take appropriate action,
consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in
forms that the public can readily find and use. Executive departments
and agencies should harness new technologies to put information about
their operations and decisions online and readily available to the
public. Executive departments and agencies should also solicit public
feedback to identify information of greatest use to the public.

Government should be participatory. Public engagement enhances the
Government's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions.
Knowledge is widely dispersed in society, and public officials benefit
from having access to that dispersed knowledge. Executive departments
and agencies should offer Americans increased opportunities to
participate in policy making and to provide their Government with the
benefits of their collective expertise and information. Executive
departments and agencies should also solicit public input on how we
can increase and improve opportunities for public participation in
Government.

Government should be collaborative. Collaboration actively engages
Americans in the work of their Government. Executive departments and
agencies should use innovative tools, methods, and systems to
cooperate among themselves, across all levels of Government, and with
nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals in the private
sector. Executive departments and agencies should solicit public
feedback to assess and improve their level of collaboration and to
identify new opportunities for cooperation
Beside the issue of transparency there is the matter of accountability
and restoring the confidence in our local government and their
attention to the need of ALL government agency to comply
From a dictionary
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several
meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as
responsibility,[1] answerable, blameworthiness, liability, and other
terms associated with the expectation of account-giving. As an aspect
of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems
in the public sector, nonprofit and private (corporate) worlds. In
leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption
of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies
including the administration, governance, and implementation within
the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the
obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting
consequences.
To all interested parties open for comment and suggestions
Howard McGowan
Malden Senior

Mass Senior Action Council Metro North Chapter

AS a local grass roots senior
run organization we are Committed
To empowering Seniors and Others to act collectively
Promote the rights and well being of all people
Particularly vulnerable Seniors.

GOALS FOR THE YEAR
Utilize resources for family care givers.
Expand senior services to under served neighborhoods
Lead public and private foundations and other non-profits toward the concept of having elder-ready communities.
Be more involved in city, county and community planning processes. Develop a volunteer coordination center. OUR CHAPTER MISSION
The mission of Metro North Chapter MSAC is to respond to the ever-changing needs of seniors and their families
Affect in positive ways their quality of life
Assist in maintaining their independence.
COME JOIN AN OUTFIT WITH THE 11,000 SENIORS IN MALDEN

MCfADDEN mANOR

TIME TO MAKE AMENDS AND PUT THIS SITE TO USE FOR MALDEN SENIORS
Get the Geratric Authority active on the issue for getting AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A HEALTH CARE CLINIC(ADULT CARE CENTER) BUILT ON THE SITE.
.By Sharon Tosto Esker/malden@cnc.com
GateHouse News Service
Posted Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:49 PM
Last update Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:53 PM
Malden — Before the apartments and the
school were built off of Forest Street,
the land surrounding the McFadden Manor
was a sprawling country landscape complete
with cows, pigs, chickens, horses and a garden
to feed the people living on what was then
known as the “poor farm.”

“Where the school is now was primarily
corn fields,” said Arlene McGuire, the
granddaughter of James McFadden, the
nursing home’s namesake. “The apartments
next door were a cow pasture and horses
were there also.”

Arlene McGuire and her brother Paul McGuire
attended Monday night’s Friends of McFadden
meeting to give the nursing home’s supporters
an opportunity to hear what it was like to
live on the McFadden Manor premises during
the
late 1940s and 1950s, when they were just
children.

Built in the 1880s, the poor farm originally
housed Malden residents who were ill or in
need of a place to live.

The McGuires’ grandfather, James McFadden,
oversaw the farm from about 1922 through
1948. The McGuires’ parents, George and
Anne McGuire, took over two years after
McFadden left his post and raised their
family of six children, including Arlene
and Paul, on the farm.

It was only in 1955 that the facility was
converted to a full-time nursing home to
care for the city’s elderly population.

“If a family was burnt out [of their house],
or if children were abandoned, my father
would take them in,” said Arlene McGuire.
“There were people who really appreciated
it, especially the children.”

The McGuires recalled several holiday
memories, which were a community affair
when they were living on the property.

“My father used to decorate the pine tree
in the front with giant bulbs for Christmas
,” said Paul McGuire. “You could see all
through the neighborhood.”

And for Christmas and Halloween,
George McGuire were open the doors
to the facility and invite the neighbors
in to celebrate.

“My father believed that children should
not be going out door-to-door asking for
candy [on Halloween],” said Arlene McGuire.
“He said it wasn’t safe so he organized a
yearly Halloween party.”

Arlene McGuire brought several delicately
worn black and white photographs of her
family and past residents who had lived on
the McFadden Manor property. A few photos
showed residents getting their hair primped
and curled in the beauty parlor that still
exists at the McFadden Manor, but which
has long been out of service.

Paul McGuire even mentioned the jail cell
that remains in the basement of McFadden,
which has also been closed for decades.

“The jail downstairs was used for residents
who came home drunk until they sobered up,”
said Paul McGuire.

The McGuires felt compelled to recount
their memories to remind the Friends of
McFadden and its supporters how important
the facility was to them, and also to the
residents of Malden.

“I would hate to see this place closed down,
whether it was named for my grandfather or
not,” said Paul McGuire. “Just its reputation
is worth keeping it open.”

The most poignant moment of evening was

when Arlene McGuire read a letter to the
editor of a Malden newspaper from what she
believed was during the 1960s.
(The newspaper clipping was not dated.)

“I was surprised to read that consideration
was being given to the closing of the
McFadden Memorial Home by the city,”
wrote Ethel S. Greene, who lived on
90 Maple St. in Malden. “Having
first-hand knowledge of the care given
patients there, I have felt that it was
one thing of which the city of Malden
could well be proud.”

Greene’s words were reminiscent of
similar words being used by the
Friends of McFadden to save the
nursing home today.

“I believe that even if it should
cost a little more to care for patients
at McFadden Memorial Home, the
expenditure is justified, in view of
the homelike atmosphere and the
tender, loving care given the patients,
” Greene wrote.

When the McGuires had finished their
walk down memory lane, several meeting
attendees gathered around looking at the
photographs of the garden, the farmhouse
and Molly, their most favorite black and
white cow, as well as yellowed newspaper
clipping that detailed happenings like
the annual McFadden Manor Christmas party
sponsored by the Elks.

The McGuire family left the McFadden Manor
property in the late 1950s, but for both
Arlene and Paul McGuire, the farm will
always hold a special spot in their memories.

“I’ve always been sad that they closed
the farm,” said Paul McGuire. “Imagine
if it were still open? All of the
community and the children could come
to see the garden and experience a
real working farm. And all of the
residents could be occupied by taking
care of the garden and the farm.”

Meeting attendees said they were thrilled
by their special guests.

“The best part for me was taking them on
a tour (of the facility),”
said Valerie Folk,
whose brother is a McFadden Manor
resident. “Every corner we turned,
they’d say, nothing’s changed.
I don’t know how they remember everything.
It must have meant a lot to them.”

Friends of McFadden continue progress
Valerie Folk once again led the Friends
of McFadden meeting and provided the
group of approximately 30 attendees with
update on their progress to keep the
city-run nursing home open.

Since the last meeting, hundreds of flyers
and postcards have been distributed to
Malden residents across the city at
church services, community meetings
and even supermarket parking lots.

Folk is still trying to negotiate a
time for Mayor Richard Howard to give
the Friends of McFadden and their
supporters an update on where the
city stands on funding and the
future of the nursing home.
Howard had hoped to meet with
the group in April.

The Friends of McFadden are still
seeking potential members of a
board of directors to establish
a geriatric authority.
A geriatric authority would oversee
the daily administration of the facility,
as well as manage its own budget.

To establish a geriatric authority,
the board of directors would be
responsible for the day-to-day
management of the nursing home
such as dealing with federal and
state requirements for nursing homes,
medical updates, resident enrollment,
Medicare reimbursement and the budget.

The geriatric authority would be set up
similarly to the Malden Housing Authority,
which also runs independently from the
city’s budget.

“We’re looking for other members of the
community,” said Folk. “We’d like a grant
writer and a certified public accountant.
We’d also like people from the business
community.”

Folk told the group they need to move
quickly. Howard has committed to funding
the nursing home for the first six months
of fiscal 2009, which begins on July 1, 2008.

“We have to move quickly to establish a
geriatric authority before any moves are
made to privatize McFadden,” said Folk.
“We’ve made it clear that privatization
is not what we want. It’s also important
for us to keep the community informed
and involved.”

The Friends of McFadden are continuing
their efforts to stay in the forefront
of Malden’s residents’ minds.

“Looking at things since last November
when we started meeting regularly,
we’ve come a long way,” said Folk.
“But, in some respects, I’m a little
dismayed. I knew that there would be
some hurdles, but I would have thought
that by now we’d be sitting down with
the mayor to discuss the geriatric authority.
At the same time, though, I’m energized.
We had some new faces at the meeting
tonight and we continue to build support.”

The next Friends of McFadden meeting
will take place on Monday, May 5, at
6:30 p.m. at McFadden Manor on Forest Street.
All members of the community are invited
to attend.

— The Friends of McFadden have established
a Web site, which posts information about
upcoming meetings, at
www.FriendsofMcFadden.com.
The group can also be reached
by calling the McFadden Manor
at 781-322-1700. Staff members
will pass along messages
to the Friends of McFadden.

Copyright 2008 Malden Observer.
Some rights reserved
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Nice Photo..but2 years agoReport Abuse
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.....Make way for the new 'Howard Estates'
A Plush, High End Residence for the
affluent community, Units starting
at just under $599.000.
Cape Codder2 years agoReport Abuse
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I grew up on Gilbert Street not far
from McFadden Manor . I do remember
the farm and where the playground is,
I'm guessing because it's been a
long time since I have been back
to the old neighborhood. I remember
there was this nasty bull in the
field and he didn't like anyone
coming near the fence. He got loose
one day and razed havoc in the street.
I remember when the school was built
and many days of playing baseball and
football in the park. There is nothing
wrong in preserving the past.
The City of Malden should keep
McFadden Manor.
big jim2 years agoReport Abuse
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The more you learn the more sorry
this situation is. The poor farm
was closed and a school was built
along with some elderly housing
on the land. Now a second school
was built and a Nursing Home for
the Elderly which was converted
in 1955 to 'care for the cities
elderly population' was begun.
Now the Mayor for Life wants to
make sure that the city does not
live up to its obligations from
the past. Shame Richie Shame.
The best part of the article is
from Cape Codder who wrote of a
distant relative of the Mayor for

Life, a nasty bull that would not
let people too near. The Mayor won't
let people there live in peace just
like his ancestor the bull. Richie
your just like that old bull nasty
and full of .... Tell the truth for
a change and let the people that live
and work there what their future is and when.
Stop being a coward, it's not getting
you votes when you mistreat the old folks.
To: Big Jim2 years agoReport Abuse
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nobody told you? The mayor doesn't care
about your vote anymore--he's not running
again. He's setting it up for his puppet,
Neil, to take his place. Notice how Neil
is playing like he's his own man now and
not going along with the mayor? Notice how
many articles have his name all over them?
Notice how he's got the kids from the
charter school doing his cleanup work?
Notice how he's got cameras up in
Maplewood the charter school paid for?
Get ready--the mayor is going to give
it to the McFadden people good!
The first poster is right on--
'Howard Estates' coming up!
Big Black BullSh**2 years agoReport Abuse
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Their all cutting and running,
their folding up, their getting
out- the damage is done, and
they made their monies, now we

sit there with dumb looks on our
faces at what they've done- and wonder
about what they first said to us in
their attempt to represent- it was all lies.
and look at my city...look for
our elderly....what now?...
what now.....can I get a witness..?.
.does the statute of limitations
effect local politicians? can we sue?
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Census 2010

In Malden we have a large population
of Chinese and Vietnamese to the
Malden Senior Community Center and
many Foreign churches (groups) The
Immigration Learning Center in Malden
that should become involved.
The Great Wall Inc should be involved.
I am interested in seeing Mass
Senior Action involved in the
public housing units
Census 2010: Key Dates
Ideas for Partners
. Volunteers help paint a census
mural in neighborhood of Malden
.
U.S. Census Bureau Boston Regional
Census Center
One Beacon Street, 7th Floor Boston,
MA 02108
Phone: (617) 223-3610 E-mail: Boston.
PDSP@census.gov

Resolution Howard McGowan

As a member
of Mass Senior Action Council
Malden Chapter Metro North

Whereas: We have a rule at the City Council
that no taxpayer,citizen can address
the council during the formal session
Whereas: Many vital issues affecting the lives
and concerns of Malden Residents need
to be addressed in an open forum
Whereas: Current interests should be presented
to the electorite in open Forum
Whereas: Malden is operated as a democracy
with the city council elected and
expected to follow the wishes of
their electorate
Resolved: It would be feasiable for any
resident taxpayer to address
the Council for three minutes
(strictly enforced)prior to the
formal sessions of the council
meeting on any current issue.
Limit Four per formal session