Info for seniors/elderly

[peg]

Hi, I'm hoping I can get some advice for my grandparents.

They don't have access to the internet so I've sort of taken it upon myself to do some research for them. Here's their situation, it's very long.

My grandmother is 68, grandfather is 67 and they live in Georgia. They have recently fallen on some bad health as well as financial problems. He inherited a family tobacco farm as well as many acres of land from his father in his 20's. He worked as a farmer until the late 70's when he started having financial problems. He quit farming and started working as a prison officer for the regular pay and benifits for himself and my grandmother. He retired from that job in the late 90's (not sure which year) and started doing small odd jobs to earn extra money. Since then his finances have gone down hill, he had to sell the land which had been in his family for almost a century, filed bankruptcy, and had a foreclosure on his home. Fortunately the person who bought their home allowed them to continue living there for only $400 a month, which isn't too bad. Because of his health and his age he is no longer able to work.

He and my grandmother recieve checks from social security and he gets a retirement check. I think they also get medicare so most of their doctor visits aren't too expensive. However, they are really struggling to make ends meet. Thier medicine costs them a fortune.

My question is, are their any programs that I might be able to look into that would help with their prescriptions, groceries, utilities. I am sort of ignorant to this sort of thing right now, although I hope to educate myself immediately. I don't know where to begin or exactly what information I need to get from them to know what they're eligible for. Oh yeah, about a year ago a friend of theirs who works at our defacs (social services) told them they weren't eligible for anything because they made just over the limit. This could be the truth, but I still feel I owe it to them to exhaust all the options before we settle for that.

Thanks to anyone who actually took the time to read all of this. Any information would be great, I feel so helpless and want to help them if at all possible.

[terry1156]

I believe that there is a new prescription drug program through medicare / medicade that should reduce the cost of prescription a lot. You should contact medicade and have them send information to you about it - I'm not really familiar, but I know this is something new that has just recently been introduced.

[34saving]

Unfortunately programs that would help in this kind of situation vary A LOT by state, county, and city. Here in MN you can get help with everything from food to heat, but Georgia may be different. I'd try to contact the county social services. If nothing else they should be able to point you in the right direction. Other places that might be able to point you in the right direction: Local pastors/churches, Local branch of the AARP, city social services.

As for medicine: I think Merck and Phizer (sp?) both have programs that can provide cheap/ reduced cost for people who can't afford their medicine. Check the websites of the companies that make your grandparents' drugs to see if they have such a program and if your grandma and grandpa could qualify. Also, there are lots of websites/mail order/phone order pharmacies that import drugs from Canada. This often reduces the price by over 30%. (My dad has been doing this for my grandma for years now.) Also check the dosing of their medicine. Often a 60mg tablet is the same price as a 30mg tablet. So, if their presciption is for 30mg they can buy the 60mg, cut it in half, and get two for the price of one.

Hope this helps Good luck!

[VJW]

Originally Posted by terry1156

I believe that there is a new prescription drug program through medicare / medicade that should reduce the cost of prescription a lot.

The prescription drug plan that the Republicans pushed through is a miserable disaster. It is NOT a Medicare prescription drug program, it is a private-sector prescription drug program. The bulk of the cost of the program are payments to the pharmecuetical companies, health insurance companies, and corporate HMOs, in the form of Corporate Welfare. A minority of the cost underwrites prescription drugs for seniors. That’s why the coverage is so poor and so full of holes.

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[VJW]

Originally Posted by 34saving

As for medicine: I think Merck and Phizer (sp?) both have programs that can provide cheap/ reduced cost for people who can't afford their medicine. Check the websites of the companies that make your grandparents' drugs to see if they have such a program and if your grandma and grandpa could qualify. Also, there are lots of websites/mail order/phone order pharmacies that import drugs from Canada. This often reduces the price by over 30%. (My dad has been doing this for my grandma for years now.)

This is the right direction. A lot of the drug companies started programs to provide low cost or free drugs, in an effort to forestall price controls and bulk discount purchasing by Medicare as the Veterans Administration has done.

Just compare whether the price of generics, or the low cost program from the brand name company is cheaper. Importing from Canada, if you're careful, can also reduce the costs dramatically.

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[akaivyleaf]

You're in luck, go to: http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DAS/

You want the GeorgiaCares Program which is located at: They help with prescription drug benefits and other free/low cost/sliding fee scale prescription services.
Contact Information
Phone: 1.800.669.8387
Fax: 1.404.657.1727


The Division of Aging Services for the State provides a myriad of services for your grandparents. All you need to do is contact the Area Agency on Aging(AAA) for the county in which they reside... Here is a list of the counties and their AAA for specific information
http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/...bf01010aRCR D
(sorry the link is so long)

[Snoopy2645]

I know others stated this but defiently check into title 19 medicad for them they may qualify for that, if not try pfizer I got my grandma signed up for that & its saved her alot also you may want to see about senior housing my grandma lives in those for like $200 a month this includes her phone & water. So no taxes or insurance either like when she lived in her house.

Also try heating assistance I heard here it starts for seniors next month if they have no heating bill the grant goes towards the rent. Also you may want to try foodstamps some elderly people qualify for that.

And if they dont get medicaid maybe give them those prescription coupons like the $10 gc with prescription that could help them too. Also try the aging society or senior center they may have info on how & what to get them signed up for. They come & talk to my grandma at her apt every once in awhile to make sure she is getting everything she qualifies for.