McHenry Public Library District Digital Archives

McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, IL), 20 Aug 1980, p. 23

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Past 65 byCarlRibletJr. Q. - "I am a woman alone for the last 17 years whose Social Security check does not cover my expenses. There are many senior cftixens who are short of living expense money, as 1 am. I think I have a solution for some of us. "Why don't groups of three or four or more older people who are acquainted get together and, through rent or purchase, acquire a nice house and live there and share expenses and housework and main­ tenance? Those people would have companionship and a small, interesting world of their own and wouldn't have to go into a nursing home. "Do you think such an idea could work? - Ustain D. A. - It could work very well and such com­ panionable households have been the refuse of older citizens for many years. In a city in Florida, for example, there is such a home where 16 seniors live together in happy partnership. Years ago, their predecessors bought a large, old house and moved in, sharing expenses and work. Over the years, others saw that the arrangement worked well, that the seniors living in that house were happy and in­ terested in life. They em­ ployed their own registered nurse. Last year, they had some operating cash that was unspent and with it they purchased a video cassette machine. As some of those seniors died, others who had ob­ served the success of the home with envy, applied to fill the vacancies and some were accepted into mem­ bership. Thus, the home carries on from year to year. I have learned of other group occupaiTCTes^of self- owned nursing homesTand in most cases the plan has been well accepted and successful when put into operation. The elders who live in them sincerely want the plan to work and so it works. Pension and benefit checks from SS, when pooled, can be made to go farther than in­ dividual checks for lonely individuals. The way to make it work would be fjjr a group of friends who are senior citizens to look for a house - perhaps a house owned by one of the group - and then solicit the aid of the local Legal Aid society to have the legal problems solved before moving in. The local Council on Aging could help, too. Thanks to Ustain for offering the idea anew. Q. "Volunteer work is readily acceptable by those employers who get your free time, but if a person starts looking for a job that pays for the same work, she probably won't get the job. I have had a lot of experience in volunteer work, doing jobs for no pay that others get paid for. "I had a good job for years that brought me many raises but I quit when I got married. The management said then that I could always come Met to work there, but when I did go back and ask for my old job they wouldn't hire me because the foreman said I was an old woman. I had just turned 60 and I wasn't an old woman. You wrote about getting a part- time job. How can I get one when they want people who are young, young, young?" - Claire B. A. - Claire can go to Kelly Services, known for many years as the "Kelly Girl people," in Riverside. The phone is 686-3112. They may send her to a firm that has already agreed to hire older workers. Many senior citizens have obtained jobs from temporary-help placement firms such as Kelly Girls or Manpower. Good luck to Claire. Q. - "I am 90 years old. When I was 10 and attending a country school in Iowa, I remember that at a school festival two little girls dressed like a moon sang the song you asked the words for last week. It went like this: "Oh, Mama, how pretty the moon looks tonight -It was never so pretty before.- Her two little horns are so clear and bright-I hope they won't grow anymore.-If I were up there with you and my friends,-We'd rock it gently, you'd see.-We'd sit in the middle and hold both ends,-Oh, what a nice cradle it would be.' " - Delia DeR. A. - Many readers sent in the words. Thanks especially to 90-year-old Delia. Q. - "It is certainly the business of Social Security recipients, in contradiction to your idea that recipients should mind their own business, to be concerned with the way SS funds are handed out, whether it be a neighbor or a complete stranger. "It is not a matter of somebody's check being bigger than mine. It is simply the inequity in the way SS works. Here is my example: "A friend of mine has never had to work all her life, while I have worked since leaving high school. She started to receive SS checks at the age of 60 when her husband died at 56. She and I are the same age. However, I am not only unable to collect SS at age 60 but must continue working and am forced to pay into SS for another two years. "Does it not strike you as odd that one who has paid into the fund for almost 45 years must work longer to qualify for SS payments while someone who doesn't work at all and who has never contributed a cent to the fund gets benefits? Oh, yes, my friend's husband did pay into the fund but had he lived he would not have been eligible for another four years. "My friend is every bit as capable of working as I am but it is easier for her to go to the mailbox for a check than it is for me to get up morning after morning, year after year, and go to work. Is that fair? "The reason SS is in trouble, as I read in the papers, is that Congress has seen fit to hand out money freely to innumerable people who have not merited payments." - Mary A. A. - Mary A. has sound basis for her dissatisfaction. I heard recently from a man who no longer needs his SS checks and so has sent them back each month since January. He reports that SS insists he MUST accept the checks, that he cannot refuse them even though he is so recently rich that he doesn't need the money. It would seem immoral to accept SS checks when they are not at all needed. Q. - "Contrary to what you wrote about holographic wills, they are not recognized here in the State of Oregon. Please correct your recent item in the Daily Oregonian." - Helen W.R. A. - Contrary to what Helen writes, the probate court in her county stated yesterday that a will written in the testator's handwriting is wholly legal when wit­ nessed by two people. I think that holographic wills, properly witnessed, are legal nearly everywhere in the so-called free world. It is a matter of witnesses. For example, it is a legal will if a soldier, aware that he is about to die on a battlefield, writes a short will on a scrap of paper, leaving all he has to his buddy, or his sister or brother, or anybody else, providing someone there on the battlefield witnesses it. M o r e C o m f o r t w i t h Loss E n e r g y LENNOX Save Energy - Save Money Replace your old questionable furnace with a new gas Lenn£>Conservator II forced air system. Electronic ignition, Heatsaver™vent damper, quality construction gives you more comfort for less. I 1S31 HEATING AND COOLING SUiVKIfTB. A CrtifM LENNOX Dnter (815)459-2300 JLENNOXi In some similar battlefield cases, it has been reported that a blanket bequest made verbally, and witnessed, is perfectly legal, although not written. Q. - "As a registered nurse employed by a nursing home, I am distressed at the negativism portrayed in your article that criticized the managements of some nursing homes. Such things as indifference and mistreatment of patients in some nursing homes by some of the personnel do happen, but it is not com­ monplace. "You do a disservice to those of us who are working diligently to upgrade and maintain an excellent standard of care in nursing homes. "I enjoy your column and - feel that you provide a real service for those over 65. But don't you think you should nnt Ka OA nATf nf ltrA nlwvut nil uviii i yvu uiiirn yuu miuuiu not be so negative about all nursing homes?" - Barbara P. A. - I'm sorry Barbara thinks I meant all personnel at all nursing homes. I did not, of course. However, in two cases in my city there is much difference in quality of care. One home for the aged has a bad record with hospitals because so many of their patients sent to hospitals for treatment of serious illness have a regular plague of bedsores-- a sure sign of neglect. Another nursing home seldom has a case of bed­ sores reported ip its patients who are sent to a hospital for temporary treatment. It is a matter of care, and some care more than others. Q. - "My daughter with two children is suing for divorce from a cruel man who will not give her money for a doctor. She has such high blood pressure that she has to take four potent anti- blood pressure pills a day; m$re than I take. Her doctbc-internist sent her to the only neurologist in this area, but the neurologist won't examine her until she pays his fee of $175 in ad­ vance. Her insurance covers the charge but the doctor won't accept insurance assignment. I will have to send her the $175 out of my small* monthly pension. Without commenting on whether the $175 charge is fair, I will say this: that neurologist and all doctors like him who want money in advance ought to be shot at sunrise. Who do they think they are with their heartless and money-hungry attitude? I don't blame him for wanting his money but why can't he accept an assign­ ment of her insurance? His office girl said it was too much work." - Marjorie C. A. - Take it easy, Mar­ jorie. We can't go around shooting doctors who act like pawn brokers. Marjorie can place some of the blame on the insurance companies. They do make extra work, SECTION 2 - PAGE 3 - PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY. AUGU8TM. ltM, Johnsburg Mary L. Gunderson club, from 6 to 8 p.m., with dancing from 9 to 1 a.m. to benefit the Building fund. Don't miss this special oc­ casion... they are expecting t yourself. 385-3052 JW>wUl«Joy Registration Days Slated Registration days for public school Religious Education classes are Saturday, Aug. 23, after 5:30 and 8 p.m. Masses, Sunday, Aug. 24, after 9, 10:30 and noon Masses; Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 25 and 26, at St. John's school; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is for pre-school, grade school and high school students. There is still a need for teachers to accommodate all the children. Call Sue Podolski, at the rectory, or Mrs. Wayne (Patsy) Hiller. Training will be provided. Registration of new students will continue during school hours as new families move in. Contact the sisters at the convent, or call the rectory. Pre-school - St. John's School Board announced the formation of a pre-school program beginning in September. Three and four- year-olds will be accepted. For information, call the school or Mrs. Richard (Diane) Himpelmann. JOHNSBURG RESCUE SQUAD A sit-down dinner will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Johnsburg Community however small, for those women who work in doctors' offices. It appears to be another of the many cases in which a doctor's employee acts more like the doctor than the doctor does. The doctor himself may not be entirely to blame. Marjorie's daughter can ask him point blank on the phone to ex­ plain. If his explanation is not satisfactory or perhaps not forthcoming, then she can register her complaint with the local county medical society. Doctors have to be paid. But ~ they had better be more un­ derstanding or the first thing they know socialized medicine will make the rules, unhappily for both the doctors and the insurance companies. Write to Carl Riblet Jr. at Box 40757, Tucson, Ariz., 85717 for information and advice on questions you may have as an elder citizen. S e n d s e l f - a d d r e s s e d stamped envelope. CONGRATULATIONS ...to Jeffrey Louis Dob- bertin, Stefan Arthur Ladenburger, Matthew William Harrison and Ryan Michael Podolski, who were baptized at the noon Mass at St. John's, on Sunday, Aug. 10, and their families. HOME 6 HOSPITAL Keep in your special prayers, our sick, Lucille Oeffling, Margaret Schmitt, Isabel Stilling and Elizabeth Tabar. They will appreciate a card. SYMPATHY Peter P. Vrasich died Thursday, Aug. 7, in McHenry hospital. He was a member of St. John's, and a funeral Mass was offered Monday, Aug. 11, with burial in the church cemetery. Pray for him and his family. Steve Orsolini, a recent former resident of Jak-Ana Heights, Johnsburg, and also a member of St. John's, died Sunday, Aug. 3 in Good S a m a r i t a n h o s p i t a l , Downers Grove, 111. A funeral Mass was held at St. Philip the Apostle church, Addison, 111. Say an extra prayer for this old neighbor of ours, and his family. FISH You have been hearing a lot about this group - no doubt you would like to know - who - where - when and how they operate. Call FISH at 385-0258 for answers to your questions. They can alwayc use volunteers. BIRTHDAYS It was a very busy day for Mrs. Frank (Agnes) Freund (Johnsburg road) last Monday, Aug. 11 - it was her 8lst birthday. Her friends and relatives entertained her all day and evening. You bet she enjoyed it, and it will be long remembered. A belated "Happy Birthday", Agnes. DATES TO REMEMBER Aug. 23 - Johnsburg Rescue Squad, Dinner A Dance - Johnsburg Com­ munity club; benefit the Building fund. Aug. 23-28-Registration days for Religious Education classes at'St. John's. Sat. 6 Sun. after Masses; Mon. A Tues. at school Our kids have now grown up and to we're faced iviffc the empty neat problem. They're still In the nest and we'd like to empty it. © IRTET FOX" VALLEY MEATS Grand Opening! Poult "°^o \ Beef Sides U.S.D A. CHOICE 1.06 ,'•3 J SHORT OF CASH? HAR6E IT OULDER Months • FLATt ALL MEAT SOLO HANGING WEIGHT WEIGHT SOLD ACCORDING TO WEIGHTS AVAILABLE ALL MEAT GUARANTEED I Watch your moat cut and wrapped. CASH fOB£ shm 4* We pltdg* to do ovorything possible to too that your ordor is procossod tho way you wont it undor tho most sanitary conditions. Com* by and moot us, havo a cup of coffoo on us and soo our markot. Y o u ' l l b o g l a d I ! ! TTT . 200Lbs J U.S.D.A. CHOICE SPECIAL; I > I--I--TT? 300ST U.S.D.A. CHOICE VARIETY --r 400Lbs U.S.D.A. FAMILY SPECIAL! FOR ONLY per week for 19 weeks EXAMPLE: Loin and Round - 130 lbs. Beet $1.14 per pound |ni$ 70 LB. BOMBS - NO CHARM' TOTAL 150.80 •MmIi StMks •faatflMst •6n«4M i ImsI Stalks »J4m Slut •fit* I* •firtuWts# StMks *SMi T» tost iMrftMIt FOR • Afl per week I ONLY ™ ^^for If weeks i EXAMPLE: /fj Loin, Rib and Round • 210 lbs. Beef $1.13 per pound /J j Pl»S 90 LB. BOMBS - NO CHARM/I* TOTAL 237.30 •Mil StMks •PwtMfcNM StMkl •! JtM StMks •CM StMks Htt Steks *HMs l •Strip StMks HImM StMks *S*tss StMks •fartrSinks •$«*!)»IN* •StMfcfttlMit /' l*tM*!MSt •CMlNli •frMrflMlMJItof/ FOR ONLY per week lor If weeks i USDA Prim# Pre-Trimm«d BEEF ORDERS FROM FREE RACK OF RIBS!! 10 LBS. OF SMOKED SPARERIBS For opening your charge account with Beef Purchase Fox Valley CLOSED MON. ' IWJm. 312-697-2616 for Appointment 920 Villa9 Elgin9 ML bu» m 20 EXAMPLE:. 250 Lb. Side Beef 51.04 per pound fiBS ISO LBS. BOMBS. HO CNAROf TOTAL 265.60 •SMi StMks ffeti •SM*n»fc«l •fwtatwM StMkt *Strif StMks •Siatofltl •I-IMI StMks StMks _ Ml •OM StMki *tvfctcM StMks *Ckadi ImM StMks *S«tai StMks tnmiU* •Ui Mm VISIT OUR SMOKE MOOSE Free Samples Daily! Ribs, Hocks, Chops, Weiners, Horn A Bocon Other items in Season 697-2616 •I, Now

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy