Davida Siwisa James

Senior Services for the Financially Challenged Davida Siwisa James

"Senior Services for the Financially Challenged" is a gem of a book that proves big things come in small packages. It provides valuable information for low-income seniors, their families and caregivers about the multitude of free social services available to help them live with more dignity. The material the author shares is totally public, but could take years of frustrating wrong turns to find out about on your own. This book is your shortcut to the questions you may not have known to ask-and it gives you the answers. How many people know that Medicaid can help pay the greater portion of Assisted Living Facility fees in five-star residential care centers? The author walks you through all the steps on how to apply for the program. If you are caring for a senior on Medicaid, you could be paid for services you may be providing for free out of the goodness of your heart. Ms. James has woven vital, often overlooked information about services available for low-income seniors, while recounting her journey caring for her father as he phased from dementia to Alzheimer's. Most books that touch upon these subjects are too clinical and detached. Others want to sugar coat the reality of caring for an aging, sick loved one. Not so here where the author shares some brutal truths to consider about the decision to become a caregiver for an elderly person. "This book will be an extremely helpful guide for families and/or their caregivers to help them navigate not just through Medicare and Medicaid, but so many social service programs for low-to-middle income seniors," said Colleen Anderson, retired Statewide Program Administrator for California Community Care Licensing, the state agency that licenses residential care facilities for the elderly. "The author has combined a wealth of factual information to help seniors live a better quality of life, along with personal anecdotes while caring for her ailing father." Ms. Anderson is the CEO of the California Institute of Health and Social Services, Inc. in Los Angeles. Finally there is a book that focuses on providing details on accessing long term residential care to an underserved population-elderly people with limited financial resources.