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6 “Must-Do”s This Fall

By Mason Crane-Bolton

Let’s get ready for fall! | photo via Pixabay.com

 

6 “Must-Do”s This Fall
 

Fall is a wonderful time of year: fall strolls, warm cups of tea, falling leaves, and it’s the perfect time to get things done! Whether you have a to-do list already, or you’re planning only on basking in the cooler season, we have some items you should make room for on your itinerary.
 

  1. Get Your Home Ready for Winter.Get your home prepared for winter before cold temperatures and bad weather come knocking at the door! This fall do an inspection of your home inside and outside for projects that need to be finished for your own comfort and safety. Note any places where ice might accumulate around your door or walkway, as well as any cracks or gaps in walkways and steps that could trip you, and get them fixed before it’s too cold (or they’re covered in snow!). 

2. Do an Energy Audit of Your Home.The high cost of winter heating bills is a burden for many older adults in New Jersey. Now is a great time to see how you can potentially lower your bills by giving your home an energy audit. Look for places where you might lose the most heat, such as: drafty or older windows and doors, gaps under doorways, or uninsulated attics and pipes. Ways to rectify these heat-losers include installing draft guards and installing temporary insulation on your windows and doors. Of course, you don’t have to do an energy audit alone! Your heat or energy service provider may be able to provide you with weatherization programs and consultations, or connect you with money-saving programs. For more information on energy providers and their services, watch this recent episode of Aging InsightsAging Insights 89- Keeping the Lights On and More! 

3. Get Involved in Your Community.Fall and winter can be difficult seasons for many people, especially older adults and individuals with mobility difficulties. The shorter hours of the seasons and the weather challenges of winter can make it harder for people to socialize, and the work of fall and winter chores like raking leaves and shoveling snow can be difficult or dangerous for many individuals. Fall is a great time to get out and connect with others in your community to help prevent “winter blues” down the road! Utilize your current social networks or make new ones by checking out local resources like libraries, town halls and municipal buildings, and community centers for older adults. Check in on neighbors and connect with those who could lend a helping hand or might need one. Need help with outside chores like raking leaves and shoveling snow? Ask your community center for older adults or senior center if they have volunteers they can connect you with OR ask a neighbor and trade services (you can ask for assistance with chores and help them with a skill of your own, including life advice!), it will be a win-win for everyone. 

4Get Your Documents in Order.There’s no time like the present when it comes to preparation, and preparing for your and your family’s future is no exception. Although preparing for legal and medical care and end-of-life care can be complicated and difficult for many, waiting offers no benefit—going through an emergency or end-of-life care without carefully laid plans in place will only make the process more difficult for everyone. Make sure you have a willpower of attorney, and a medical decision-making document (such as a Practitioner Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, though there are many others). We know this is a complicated decision for many and to help we recently aired this episode of Aging Insight to help you understand what you need and why: Aging Insights 96- The Three Most Important Documents 

5. Create a Disaster Plan.Don’t wait until blizzard season and sub-freezing temperatures to make a disaster plan! The worst time to need a disaster plan and not have one is when you’re in the middle of an emergency. Each September is National Preparedness Month, a time when you should review your disaster plans or create one if you don’t have one already. It may seem daunting to create a disaster preparation plan, but there are many resources to help you figure out what you need to include in your own plan and how to do so. Back in September 2018, we at NJFA created a blog post to specifically address the need for disaster preparedness and how you can prepare, which you can read here: NJFA Blog: Planning Ahead for Disaster and Staying Safe!. We’re not the only resource out there—we’d also recommend gov, the governmental website dedicated to disaster preparation.  

6. Sign Up for Assistance Programs.Assistance programs can carry a certain stigma with them; many people don’t want to sign up for assistance programs because they feel uncomfortable receiving help, or believe they won’t qualify. While not everyone qualifies for each program due to qualification restrictions imposed by state and federal guidelines, many programs suffer from underenrollment (in NJ only 48% of eligible persons are signed up for SNAP benefits!). The process can be confusing and complicated or plain daunting, especially when receiving assistance from different programs may require a separate application for each program. However, the recent development of the NJ Save application has made applying for programs a little easier through combining several different applications into one, easier-to-use online application. On a recent Aging Insights we spoke to two representatives from the NJ Division of Aging Services, who explained to us what NJ Save is and how to use it: Aging Insights 91- NJ Save Saves You!. Currently NJ Save covers several, but not all, assistance programs; be sure to investigate what other programs you might be eligible for, some of which are listed in our most recent blog post: NJFA Blog: The Importance of Programs. 

 

Whether or not you came here with plans for fall, now’s the time to make time for each item on this list! Don’t let the fall pass you by, and don’t let winter come with you un- or under-prepared. By reading this list you’ve taken the first step in becoming informed so now, before you jump into preparations, take a minute to breathe in that cool, crisp air and watch a few leaves float gently to the ground. Happy Fall everyone! 

 

If you have feedback or would like to be part of the conversation, leave us a comment below or email us as office@njfoundationforaging.org.

Come back for our next blog! New posts are published on the first and third Thursdays of each month.


Mason Crane-Bolton is Communications Manager for the New Jersey Foundation for Aging. His writing has appeared in EpiphanyUU WorldTo Wake/To Rise, and others. 

The Importance of Programs

By Mason Crane-Bolton

Have questions about what services are available to you? We have answers! | via Pixabay

 

The Importance of Programs

There are many programs available for eligible older adults, but not everyone is signed up for them. Some people aren’t aware of the types and specific programs available and others may know the programs, but don’t believe they’ll qualify for assistance. In today’s blog post we’ll take a brief overview of the types of programs available and why they’re important.

Why are these programs important? Often, due to a number of circumstances, including unforeseen medical costs, outliving one’s planned savings, needing to leave the workforce early or for lengthy periods due to medical or caregiving needs (and so on), older adults often find themselves with far fewer financial resources than they need to survive. The impacts of these problems are especially noticeable in a high-cost state such as New Jersey. Research on the issue, such as the Elder Economic Security Index (EESI), has repeatedly showcased the difficulties faced by older adults continuing to age in New Jersey. Older adults face higher risks of homelessness, hunger, and delayed or neglected medical care due to their financial means. Although the programs listed below help to combat these disturbing trends, these programs are also often threatened by financial cuts, changes in eligibility requirements, and lack of legislative or community support.

Food Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may the one of the most well-known of the food assistance programs. Another popular program is the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which “promotes nutritional health among New Jersey’s senior citizens by providing them with locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.”

Check your eligibility and apply for SNAP here: Apply for SNAP

Medical Assistance

In addition to Medicare, there are several other programs for older adults, including prescription assistance. The Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled program (PAAD) is a state-funded program that helps eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities save money on their prescription drug costs.

To learn more about applying for Medicare go to the Social Security Administration’s website here: Social Security Administration: Medicare

To learn more about applying for PAAD, the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, and other Medicare savings programs, continue to the section on the new NJ Save application and follow this link: NJ Save Application

Assistance for Homeowners

For eligible homeowners, assistance is available with your property taxes. The Property Tax Reimbursement Program (popularly known as the Senior Freeze Program) and the Homestead Benefit Program are available to older adults who qualify.

Learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to apply for the Property Tax Reimbursement Program here: NJ Property Tax Reimbursement Program a.k.a. “Senior Freeze”

Heating and Cooling Assistance

The Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) “helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.”

Check your eligibility and download the application for LIHEAP here: Apply for LIHEAP

Multi-Program Savings and Application

New Jersey’s new application NJ Save allows eligible older adults and those with disabilities to apply and enroll in the following programs simultaneously:

-Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)

-Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program

-Lifeline Utility Assistance

-Medicare Savings Programs (SLMB & QI-1)

-Medicare Part D’s Low Income Subsidy (aka “Extra Help”)

-Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD)

The application is also used to screen for LIHEAP, SNAP, and Universal Service Fund (USF). In addition, individuals who qualify for PAAD and Lifeline Utility Assistance through NJ Save may also be eligible for Property Tax Freeze (“Senior Freeze”), reduced motor vehicle fees, and low-cost spay/neuter for pets.

Learn more about NJ Save and apply here: Apply Through NJ Save

Programs aimed to assist our most vulnerable often seem out of reach for many, and while it may be true that these programs all have eligibility requirements, many programs are under utilized. Remember that only 48% of eligible older adults in New Jersey are currently receiving SNAP benefits. Rather than assume you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, look into the requirements for each program (or use the NJ Save application) and apply for all the programs you meet the criteria for. Regardless of what assistance level you might receive from an individual program, each benefit can help you and even small benefit amounts can quickly add up to substantial assistance across several programs!

 

If you have feedback or would like to be part of the conversation, leave us a comment below or email us as office@njfoundationforaging.org.

Come back for our next blog! New posts are published on the first and third Thursdays of each month.


Mason Crane-Bolton is Communications Manager for the New Jersey Foundation for Aging. His writing has appeared in EpiphanyUU WorldTo Wake/To Rise, and others.