>>.

♪ PETER: FULGHUM TO ANOTHER EDITION OF "AND ANOTHER OPINION ," I AM YOUR HOST, PETER WELLS.

I GUESS TODAY IS DAN BURTON OF RHODE ISLAND ELDER INFO.

AN ORGANIZATION WHICH WE WILL FIND OUT ABOUT I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN SO I NEED TO KNOW.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

DEB: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOUR WATCHERS.

PETER: AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

TELL US, WHAT IS ELDER -- RHODE ISLAND ELDER INFO.COM?

DEB: THEY PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES FOR SENIORS, CAREGIVERS, AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM.

IT IS BASED ON THE EIGHT DOMAINS OF AGING IN PLACE THAT ARE CREATED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

THAT IS THE HEALTH AND SUPPORT ASPECTS OF AGING IN PLACE, IT IS THE HOUSING ASPECTS, TRANSPORTATION, THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS YOU NEED TO HAVE AS WE AGE, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.

THEN BECAUSE AGING IS NOT JUST ABOUT DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND MEDICAL NEEDS, AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS, THERE IS A SECTION FOR ACTIVITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS.

JUST FUN THINGS TO DO.

IT IS ABOUT LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUALS AS WHOLE, COMPLETE FOLKS.

WHAT DO THEY NEED?

WHAT DO WE ALL NEED AS WE AGE?

PETER: HOW DOES RHODE ISLAND ELDER INFO DIFFER FROM LET'S SAY, THE STATE ORGANIZATION ELDERLY AFFAIRS OR THE -- I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.

DEB: THESE DAYS, IT IS CALLED THE OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING.

AND WE ARE NOT PART OF THE STATE AGENCY.

WE ARE OUR OWN 501(C)(3), SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING, FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE DIVISION OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS.

WE ARE NOT PART OF THEM.

WE COLLABORATE WITH THEM AS NEEDED, ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THEIR PROGRAMMING.

AND TO INCREASE THEIR FUNDING.

BECAUSE WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS WE AGE.

BUT WE ARE COMPLETELY SEPARAE FROM THE OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING.

PETER: WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?

DEB: WE COVER ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE ARE AVAILABLE AS YOU AGE.

NOT FOCUSED ON SIMPLY WHAT IS STATE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED?

PETER: OK. DEB: SO WE HAVE BEEN VALIDATED BY AN EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION FOR EASE OF UNDERSTANDING, EASE OF USE, EASE OF NAVIGATION.

THE WEBSITE IS RIELDERINFO.COM.

MANY PEOPLE FOUND THE VALUE IN RIELDERINFO.COM AND LINKED TO IT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE ACCURATE INFORMATION.

WE KEPT IT AS A.COM BUT WE ARE A NONPROFIT.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT IS WE ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW TO ASK.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME TO GET A CALL, AND I DO TAKE PHONE CALLS, OUR NUMBER IS THE 401-585-0509, NOT UNCOMMON FOR A CAREGIVER TO CALL AND SAY, I NEED A LIST OF NURSING HOMES.

OK, THAT IS EASY TO PROVIDE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES THERE -- ABOUT TO GO INTO GETTING TO A NURSING HOME.

AND IS A NURSING HOME REALLY THE RIGHT SPOT FOR YOUR LOVED ONE?

ARE YOU AWARE OF SAY, ADULT DAY HEALTH PROGRAMS OR THE PACE PROGRAM?

WHAT DO THE SENIOR CENTERS OFFER?

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE INDEPENDENT PROVIDER PROGRAM WHERE THE SHARED LIVING PROGRAM OR?

?

HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES?

THERE ARE MANY STEPS BEFORE GETTING TO THE NURSING HOME.

A LOT OF TIMES, CAREGIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT.

OLDER ADULTS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THAT.

IT IS HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, ASKING THE QUESTIONS OF OK, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR LONG-TERM CARE, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO PAY FOR LONG-TERM CARE?

LET ME TELL YOU, IF I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERY TIME I SAID MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER LONG-TERM CARE, I COULD HAVE A HOUSE ON OCEAN ROAD IN NEWPORT.

PETER: I'M SURE.

DEB: PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALIZE.

PETER: IS THERE A FEE FOR THE SERVICES?

DEB: NO.

WE ARE A COMPLETE NONPROFIT.

WE ARE FUNDED BY SPONSORS AND DONORS.

OUR SPONSORS ARE CLEARLY INDICATED.

SO IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE, SAY, DIRECTING YOU TO THE WORLD/BEST WIDGET SITE BECAUSE THE WORLD BEST WHICH IS OUR FUNDER.

WE ARE HAVING AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT BEST TO YOUR NEEDS SO THERE IS NEVER CONFUSION AS TO WHAT OUR GOAL IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

PETER: YOU MAKE REFERRALS, AS HE SAID.

ARE THE REFERRALS ONLY MADE TO COMPANIES THAT, LIKE PARTNERS OR SOMETHING?

DEB: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE LOOKING FOR HELP IS WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED.

I NEVER REFER TO A SINGLE SOURCE.

IT IS -- I USUALLY GIVE THREE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

MORE LOCATED ON GEOGRAPHY.

SO IT IS NOT BASED ON ANYONE WHO IS PROVIDING FUNDING TO ME.

THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS, THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT DO HAVE THAT MODEL OF BUSINESS.

BUT I DIDN'T FEEL THAT THAT WAS BEING TRUE TO WHO I WAS AS AN INDIVIDUAL IN PROVIDING WHAT IS THE BEST INFORMATION FOR THAT PERSON, VERSUS THE COMPANIES THAT WILL ONLY REFER TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT.

NEED PETER:.

DO YOU HAVE A STAFF?

DEB: I AM A STAFF OF.

I DO HAVE SOME GREAT VOLUNTEERS.

I AM VERY BLESSED TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS ABLE TO HELP ME GATHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, DO OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO I AM VERY BLESSED IN THAT WAY.

WE ARE HOPING TO GROW.

BUT WITH COVID-19, THE FUNDING HAS BEEN MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROVIDING ACTUAL FOOD AND SHELTER.

AND THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE CRITICAL NEED.

WHAT RIELDERINFO.COM IS DIRECT YOU ON WHERE TO FIND THE FOOD AND SHELTER.

THERE IS A PLACE FOR US AS WELL.

PETER: DO YOU WORK WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CROSSROADS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

OR STRICTLY DO YOUR OWN THING?

DEB: IT IS A TWOFOLD.

WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

I HOLD, EVERY FRIDAY AT 9:00 A.M. ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE, I HAVE FRIDAY FRIENDS.

IT IS OUR LIVE STREAMING SHOW WHERE I HAVE FEATURED I THINK AT THIS POINT, MAYBE 52 -- WE HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR, 52 OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

PETER: OK. DEB: SO WE ARE ALWAYS PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

IS THAT COLLABORATIVE IN A WAY WHERE WE ARE BOTH APPLYING FOR GRANTS TOGETHER?

NO, IT IS MORE OF A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE ARE WORKING TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD FOR ALL OF US.

PETER: HOW WOULD A PERSON KNOW TO LOOK FOR RHODE ISLAND ELDER INFO?

THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION, I GUESS.

DEB: I THINK THAT IS ALWAYS THE QUESTION FOR ANY SOCIAL SERVICE TYPE GRAHAM, IS HOW DO YOU GET THE WORD OUT THERE EFFECTIVELY?

I AM ALWAYS TALKING TO PEOPLE.

I HAVE TO FRIDAY FRIENDS LIVE STREAMING SHOW THAT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY.

I'M HURT -- I PARTICIPATE IN MANY OF THE DIFFERENT STATE PUBLIC MEETINGS, TO LET THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY NO.

I ALWAYS MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE, SHOULD THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS.

I ALSO, PRE-COVID, WAS DOING COMMUNITY TRAININGS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

PETER: HOW DID THAT WORK?

DEB: WE WOULD REACH OUT TO LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, ANYBODY WHO WANTED INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY NEEDED TO CONSIDER AS THEY AGE.

WE DID TAKE THAT VIRTUAL.

WHEN COVID HIT, WE HAD INITIALLY HAD PLANNED OUR FIRST CALLING ALL VETERANS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 9 OF 2020.

PETER: WE WILL GET BACK TO THAT.

BUT GO AHEAD.

DEB: AND PUSHED IT TOO VIRTUAL.

HAD IT IN AUGUST SIXTH OF 2020 WHICH ARE -- WHICH WAS OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.

VIRTUALLY, WE REACHED OVER 5000 PEOPLE.

WHICH WAS AMAZING.

OUR FRIDAY FRIENDS LIVESTREAM SHOW REACHES ABOUT 1500 VIEWERS EACH WEEK.

SO SEEING THE SUCCESS IN REACHING OUT VIRTUALLY, RI ELDER INFO ALSO HOSTED IN OCTOBER THE FIRST VIRTUAL SENIOR RESOURCE FAIR.

THAT ALSO HAVE THOUSANDS OF VIEWS.

WE ARE REACHING PEOPLE ELECTRONICALLY.

THERE IS A THOUGHT THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE NOT ONLINE.

BUT 75% OF OLDER ADULTS ARE.

AND I AM IN NO WAY MINIMIZING THE 25% WHO IS NOT.

CLIPPED IT IS A WAY TO REACH FOLKS.

SOMETIMES, THE NEIGHBOR WITH INTERNET AND WITH THE ONLINE SKILLS HAS THE CONVERSATION WITH THE NEIGHBOR WHO DOESN'T.

PETER: TELL ME ABOUT THE CALLING ALL VETERANS.

HOW -- WHAT DID THAT FOCUS ON?

WHAT WAS THE PROGRAM ABOUT?

BEING AN X DIRECTOR OF THE V.A.

BENEFIT PROGRAM, I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW YOU APPROACHED THAT WITH VETERANS.

DEB: I HAVE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT TO TELL YOU WHY I CREATED THE CALLING ALL VETERANS EVENT.

THERE HAD BEEN AN ARTICLE, AND IT WAS NOT HERE LOCAL IN RHODE ISLAND, OF A VETERAN WHO PASSED AWAY, AND HE HAD NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY.

AND PEOPLE CAME -- PETER: IT HAPPENS A LOT.

DEB: CAME TO HIS FUNERAL.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

PETER: I REMEMBER THE STORY.

DEB: AND I THOUGHT, IF EACH ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD DONATED A SINGLE HOUR OF THEIR TIME TO VISIT THE GENTLEMAN WHO PASSED ALONE, HE COULD HAVE HAD A DAILY VISITOR FOR THREE YEARS.

EVERYDAY, HE COULD HAVE HAD SOMEONE IN HIS LIFE.

I THOUGHT, THAT IS NOT OK.

SO WHAT DO WE DO TO LET VETERANS KNOW FIRST OF ALL THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THEM?

AND HOW DO YOU ACCESS THEM?

MANY TIMES, YOU WILL HAE OLDER VETERANS NOT REALIZE THAT THEIR SPOUSE OR CHILDREN ARE VETERANS, NOT REALIZING THE SPOUSES ELIGIBLE FOR THE AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFIT, WHICH CAN HELP COVER THE COST OF IN-HOME CARE WHERE THE COST OF ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

PETER: SURE.

DEB: I CREATED THE CALLING ALL VETERANS EVENT, WE ARE SET TO HAVE 100 DIFFERENT RESOURCE PROVIDERS AT THE RYAN CENTER.

THEN COVID.

SO WE SPENT THREE HOURS ONLINE AND REACHED A TON OF PEOPLE.

I DEDICATED ALL OF THE FRIDAY FRIENDS IN NOVEMBER 2 DIFFERENT VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THEM.

IN MARCH, WE HELD THE FIRST CALLING ALL WOMEN WARRIORS, DEDICATED TO RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR WHEN -- OUR WOMEN VETERANS.

OUR SECOND ANNUAL CALLING ALL VETERANS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HAPPENED THIS PAST AUGUST, AND EARLY AUGUST.

WE REACHED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AGAIN.

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER FRIDAY FRIENDS, STARTING TO -- STARTING SEPTEMBER 10, WILL BE DEDICATED TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY MEMBERS POST 9/11, IN RESPECT OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.

WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THAT WAY TO HELP THEM GET THE WORD OUT ON OUR PLATFORMS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A FOLLOWING, FOR WHICH WE ARE REALLY BLESSED.

AND IT IS LETTING PEOPLE KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE CONNECTED, SO THAT THERE IS NO MILITARY MEMBER, ACTIVE OR FORMER, OR NO FAMILY OF MILITARY MEMBER, WHO FACES WHAT THAT GENTLEMAN DID WHERE HE PASSED ALONE.

PETER: I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I WORKED IN THE V.A.

FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS.

I WAS AN INSPECTOR FOR A GOOD PART OF THAT TIME.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT OLDER VETERANS PASSING ALONE IS NOT UNCOMMON.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY VETERANS GO TO THE V.A.

HOSPITALS TO DIE.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BACKUP SYSTEMS OR SUPPORT SYSTEMS.

ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AGE NOW OF KOREAN ERA WAR VETERANS.

I THINK THERE IS ONLY A COUPLE HANDFULS OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS LEFT.

KOREAN WAR VETERANS, THEY ARE IN THEIR 70'S AND 80'S.

VIETNAM VETERANS NOW ARE IN THEIR 60'S AND 70'S.

THE POPULATION OF VETERANS WHO ARE REACHING ELDERLY STATUS IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GROW.

DEB: ABSOLUTELY.

PETER: I WILL SAY THIS, IN DEFENSE OF THE V.A., EVEN THOUGH THE V.A.

IS NOT BEING QUESTIONED HERE, THAT THE V.A.

DOES DO WHAT WE CALL -- OR WHAT THEY CALL DISCHARGE TRAINING.

WHERE VETERANS EXPLAIN, THOSE WHO ATTENDED, EXPLAIN WHAT BENEFITS THE V.A.

PROVIDES AND THE V.A.

DOES NOT PROVIDE THE OUTSIDE BENEFITS THAT YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO.

AS FAR AS MEDICAL AND HOUSING AND COUNSELING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THE BASICS, THE V.A.

DOES PROVIDE.

IN THE V.A.

DOES PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE, TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

BASICALLY, I HATE TO SAY THIS, IT IS SOMEWHAT REDUNDANT BECAUSE THEY DO THE SAME THING V.A.

EMPLOYEES DO.

SOME VETERANS FEEL THAT THEY GET A BETTER DEAL IF THEY WORK THROUGH A VETERANS ORGANIZATION VERSUS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE V.A.

BUT THAT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE.

THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VETERANS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM THE V.A.

OR FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT REPRESENT, BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT SOMETIMES THAT LACK OF KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM BEING PROTECTIVE OF ONE'S INFORMATION, AND NOT WANTING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT, EVEN IN THE GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE MANY VETERANS WHO COME BACK FROM MILITARY, MALE AND FEMALE, WHO DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE V.A., BECAUSE THEY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE FROM DOD.

AND IT GETS PASSED ON TO THE V.A.

WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IN TRYING TO SERVICE THE MILLIONS OF VETERANS THAT EXIST IN THE COUNTRY, CONGRESS IS SOMEWHAT LAPSE, I BELIEVE, AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES.

THERE IS ONLY SO MANY DOLLARS SUPPOSE.

DEB: AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, AND FAR AS THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY DOLLARS OUT OF THE FEDERAL PIE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- I'M NOT A VETERAN, JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

I'M NOT A VETERAN.

PETER: NEITHER AM I, BY THE WAY.

DEB:.

.

IT IS JUST MY BELIEF THAT WHEN A MAN OR WOMAN SIGNS ON THE DOTTED LINE, TO POSSIBLY GIVE THEIR LIFE SO THAT I CAN HAVE FREEDOM AND EASE OF LIFE, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK WHAT I'M ABLE TO TO GIVE THEM FREEDOM AND EASE OF LIFE.

MY AREA OF SPECIALTY HAPPENS TO BE AGING RESOURCES.

GETTING THEM CONNECTED.

THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SOME RVA BENEFITS.

SOME ARE RESOURCES FOR VETERANS.

PARTICIPATE IN A GRASSROOTS GROUP THAT, WHEN A VETERAN IS A NEED, IF ONE OF US GETS A CALL, WE PUT OUT THE BACK LIGHT TO THE OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT NEEDS IT -- THAT NEED GETS FULFILLED.

WE WERE GIVING AWAY COATS THIS PAST WINTER AND SOMEONE SAID IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE WAS A FLYER OF THE RESOURCES FOR VETERANS.

AND I SAID, RI ELDER INFO HAS THE RESOURCES FOR THE OLDER VETERANS.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE YOUNGER VETERANS, MILITARY MEMBERS, I WROTE OPERATION IS A 20 PAGE RESOURCE GUIDE ON VETERAN RESOURCES, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RESOURCES, FOR VETERANS.

IT CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM RIELDERINFO.COM.

IT IS A FREE RESOURCE OF WHY WOULD YOU REACH OUT TO SAY, THE VET CENTER, WHAT RESOURCES DO THEY PROVIDE?

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE VFW PROVIDE?

THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR VETERANS?

PUT THAT TOGETHER, AND I RECEIVED SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE FIRST THOUSAND COPIES TO BE PRINTED.

I PICKED THEM UP FROM THE PRINT HOUSE ON A FRIDAY, THEY WERE SPOKEN FOR BY TUESDAY.

I'M LOOKING FOR MORE PRINTING SPONSORS TO RUN MORE THOUSANDS.

PETER: I KNOW YOUR FOCUS IS NOT JUST ON VETERANS.

BUT JUST TO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE VETERAN ISSUE.

DO YOU WORK AT ALL WITH A VA HOSPITAL OR V.A.

REGIONAL OFFICE?

DEB: YES AND NO.

I HAVE THE ABILITY TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THEIR TEENS.

AND SAY, HERE'S THE SITUATION, WHAT CAN WE DO?

AS A CONTRACTED COMPANY WITH THEM, NO.

I CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL DIRECTOR YARN.

DIRECTOR YARN AND I TEND TO APPEAR IN THE LOT OF THE SAME PLACES.

PETER: WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL?

DEB: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT AS MUCH.

SOME OF THE VBA PROVIDERS, YES, AS THE INDIVIDUALS.

BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHO CAN I REACH OUT TO TO GET THE JOB DONE?

THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.

PETER: YOU SHOULD HAVE A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR ON THE BENEFIT SIDE.

AND DEVELOP A FORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

THAT WAY, NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO DO A FLYER, THE V.A.

WOULD PAY FOR IT.

DEB: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

PETER: WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN 1985 AS THE DIRECTOR ON THE BENEFIT SIDE OF THE V.A., I WORKED WITH NICKERSON HOUSE, FOR INSTANCE.

AND WE BUILD THOSE FIRST TWO HOMES DOWN IN ONLY VOTE FOR VETERANS.

THAT WAS MONEY THAT CAME FROM THE V.A., BY JUST WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

THE V.A.

HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

HAS THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH YOU ON AN OUTREACH PROGRAM.

BUT THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT FROM THE STATE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE STATE V.A.

HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL V.A..

BUT I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THEY REALLY HAVE NO CONNECTION WHATSOEVER.

BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL.

THE BRISTOL HOME, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK -- AND THEY WILL SAY THE V.A.

HOME IN BRISTOL, THEY SAY IT IS A V.A.

HOME, BUT IT IS A STATE V.A.

HOME, NOT FEDERAL.

OBVIOUSLY, THE FEDERAL FROM THE GOVERNMENT GETS WRAPS THAT YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR.

BUT ARIEL BENEFITS DOWN INBORN, AND A SMALL PORTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND FOR A SPACE.

FOR THE VETERANS.

BUT THE V.A.

CEMETERY IS INBORN WHERE RHODE ISLAND VETERANS COULD BE BURIED AS WELL, IF THEY CHOSE.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONNECTION, THAT CAN BE MADE AND A LOT OF USE OF THE V.A., BOTH THE HOSPITAL SIDE AND/OR THE BENEFIT SIDE.

AND THEY ARE OPERATED SEPARATELY.

SO VETERANS REALLY NEED TO KNOW THAT.

DEB: YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I WILL MAKE THAT CALL.

PETER: YOU SHOULD.

BECAUSE THERE ARE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE, EVERY YEAR, THAT GOES UNUSED.

EVERY YEAR.

WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR HERE, I WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO MANAGE TO GET FUNDS OUT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE DOING SOME WORK WITH VETERANS.

IT DEPENDS ON -- I DON'T KNOW WHO THE DIRECTOR IS THESE DAYS AT THE FEDERAL OFFICE.

BUT YOU SHOULD SIT WITH THEM.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE HELPFUL.

ANYWAY, TELL ME ABOUT NONVETERANS.

DEB: SO FOR NONVETERANS, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT OLDER RIDDLED OR THAT CAREGIVER -- OLDER ADULT OR THAT CAREGIVER MAY NEED FOR INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.

RIGHT NOW, I HAVE HAD A RUN OF CALLS FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED EVICTION NOTICES.

NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PAY THE RENT, SOMETIMES IT IS BECAUSE THE LANDLORD PUT THE RENT UP SO MUCH THAT IT PUT IT OUTSIDE OF THE PRICE AVAILABILITY.

PETER: IS THERE NO STATE LAW AS TO THE AMOUNT A LANDLORD CAN RAISE THE RENT IN A GIVEN YEAR?

DEB: I DON'T KNOW OF ONE THAT PROHIBITS THEM FROM RAISING IT TO WHATEVER LEVEL THE MARKET WILL BEAR.

IF THEY ARE ON ONE OF THE FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS, THEN THEY CAN ONLY ACCEPT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE MEDIAN ERA RENTAL.

PETER: IF THEY ARE ON SECTION EIGHT OR SOMETHING.

I DID SEVEN YEARS WITH HUD TOO.

DEB: AWESOME.

YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND.

[LAUGHTER] PETER: OUT OF THE HARTFORD OFFICE IN THOSE DAYS.

YEAH, COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES THIS KIND OF FUNDS.

DEB: IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES, THE ANSWER IS WELL, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED CAN GO TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED HOUSING.

AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE HOUSING UNITS HAVE A 228 YEAR WAITING LIST.

-- TWO TO EIGHT YEAR WAITING LIST.

I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A DAUGHTER, OR LANDLORD SAID YOU HAVE TO GO BY SEPTEMBER 1 BECAUSE MY CHILD HAS LOST THEIR HOUSING.

AND HER PARENTS ARE IN THEIR 80'S.

AND SHE'S LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?

SHE SAID, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RENOVATE IN MY HOUSE.

BUT ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS ARE BOOKED INTO 2022.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.

.

THAT IT IS HAPPENING.

AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, I ATTENDED STATEWIDE MEETINGS TO SAY, LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THIS POPULATION AS WELL.

AND I GO OUT AND BUILD A HOUSE?

NO, I CAN'T.

BUT I CAN DEFINITELY RAISE MY SAY WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

PETER: A VETERAN COULD BUY A HOUSE.

DEB: IF THERE IS A HOUSE TO BE BOUGHT.

PETER: THEY COULD.

THEY HAVE THE V.A.

BENEFIT THAT WILL ALLOW A VETERAN TO BUY A 250 THOUSAND DOLLAR HOUSE WITH NO DOWN PAYMENT.

SO IT IS THERE.

AS LONG AS THEY ARE EMPLOYED OR HAVE AN INCOME.

DEB: NOT ALL OF OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE EMPLOYED.

WE DO HAVE A POPULATION GREATER THAN WHAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF.

WE HAD PRE-COVID, 24,000 INDIVIDUALS OVER 65 WHO WERE WORKING REGULARLY.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE STATISTICS COME OUT YET POST-COVID, AS TO HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS OVER 65 HAVE RETURNED TO WORK.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS MANY FOLKS HAD TO FACE, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS REASONABLE.

AND NOT ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WORKED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO.

IT WAS A MATTER OF NECESSITY.

PETER: SURE.

UNDERSTOOD.

DEB: IT IS ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE PIE IS WHERE OUT -- IS WHERE RI ELDER INFO LIVES.

IT IS HELPING -- SAY FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR INCOME WAS SUCH THAT YOU QUALIFIED FOR MEDICAID, THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS, MANY OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE HEALTH AND SELF -- HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS.

MANY OF OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAID, OR THEY ARE NOT IN NEED OF THE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, THE HEALTH CARE TYPE SERVICES.

THEN IT BECOMES MORE CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE, HOW DO YOU FIND OUT THINGS?

THERE USED TO BE A DAY WHERE WE COULD GO IN THE YELLOW PAGES AND FIND A ROOFER.

THE YELOW PAGES DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ONLINE, YOU ARE FACING A REAL BARRIER.

IF YOU ARE, SAY, TAKING CARE OF YOUR WIFE AND YOU NEED TO HAVE GRAB BARS PUT IN YOUR BATHROOM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO PREVENT FALLS, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE HOME MODIFICATION GRANT WHICH CAN COVER A CHUNK OF THE COST OF THOSE GRAB BARS, OR MAYBE YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE V.A.

PROGRAMS WILL COVER HOME MODIFICATION GRANTS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THEN YOU ARE IN A PICKLE BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED THOSE GRAB BARS FOR YOUR LOVED ONE, AND MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO DO THAT.

SO HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE?

IT IS THOSE PIECES WHERE RIELDERINFO.COM CAN REALLY HELP PEOPLE GET CONNECTED WITH THE RESOURCE.

PETER: MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

DEB: ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF GOOGLING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY CURATED INFORMATION.

WHEN I LINK OUT TO RELIABLE INFORMATION, WE ARE GOING OUT TO .GOV.

.

WE ARE GOING TO LEGITIMATE RESOURCES.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AS WE AGE, WHEN IS IT TIME TO STOP DRIVING?

THERE IS A LOT OF EMOTION AROUND THAT.

PETER: ABSOLUTELY.

I WILL PROBABLY BE FACING THAT SOON.

MY WEIGHT KEEPS TALKING ABOUT, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THOSE KEYS AWAY FROM YOU.

I KEEP SAYING, NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT INDEPENDENCE.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE LAST THING YOU HAVE AS AN OLDER PERSON IS NOT INDEPENDENCE.

I FULLY UNDERSTAND, LISTEN A HALF HOUR GOES BY SO FAST.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE VIEWERS TODAY IN ABOUT 15, 20 SECONDS OF WHAT IS COMING UP?

ANYTHING NEW?

DEB: I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO ONLINE AND CHECK OUT RIELDERINFO.COM.

IF THEY HAVE ANY PERSONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THEY CAN GIVE ME A CALL AT THE 401-585-0509.

OR EMAIL ME.

I'M ALMOST ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER FOLKS QUESTIONS.

NO QUESTION TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL.

I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP.

CHECK US OUT ON THE RI ELDER INFO FACEBOOK PAGE.

PETER: I'M SURE WE WILL GET THAT UP ON THE SCREEN AT SOME POINT.

LISTEN, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON AND SHARING.

I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IN RHODE ISLAND THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONVERSATION.

WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK SOME OTHER TIME AND TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO THANK TODAY'S GUEST, DEB BURTON.

AND YOU, THE VIEWERS, FOR TUNING INTO ANOTHER EDITION OF "IN ANOTHER OPINION."

A SPECIAL THANKS TO PBS FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

.

I AM YOUR HOST PETER WELLS.

GIVE US YOUR OPINION ON FACEBOOK.

ABOVE ALL, HAVE A GREAT DAY AND STAY SAFE.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪