Author: jhatemroy

Q:  Fortunately I do not live in any of the towns that were recently impacted by the devastating gas explosions. I am concerned for myself and several older relatives who live nearby if this situation was ever to occur again. Are there steps people should take if they believe there is a gas leak in…

Q:  For more than two weeks I have been bombarded by mailings from different companies providing insurance to individuals on Medicare. I start getting irritated when I receive multiple flyers from the same company. When I turned 65 and became eligible for Medicare I chose a supplemental plan. Is it safe to assume I can…

Q:  I have just relocated to the upper Merrimack Valley and moved into an elder housing building. The location is convenient to stores and the services offered in the building are just what I needed. My neighbors seem friendly so far. I make this comment with some trepidation. I have not revealed my sexual orientation…

Q:  I live in Newburyport and feel so bad for what happened in Lawrence and the other towns with the gas explosions. I am curious the impact that had on agencies like yours who work in Lawrence. Can you shed some light on how an agency like yours responds to such an immediate tragedy? A:  …

Q:  I will be returning to my hometown over the holidays. I have several older relatives (in their late 70s and 80s) who live in the area. I have heard there may be a few problems, people are concerned for their welfare. I am trying to gather information before I make the trip. How do…

Q:  My 92 year old mother lives in her home receiving 24 hour care. The two private workers have been with her for 18 months and are very responsible but I still worry. She lives in an area that is rarely in the direct path of a hurricane but often receives residual effects of a…

Q:  I have been widowed for a long time, a good friend is in the same situation. We are left out of some social events because we no longer have a partner. Neither of us really want to get married again but have talked about finding someone we could go out to dinner with and…

Q:  It was with great sadness I learned of the death of Senator McCain. I followed his career for many years. I was in college during the late sixties and watched television reports of the return of our prisoners of war from Vietnam. The Senator was a fighter in many arenas so it was mystifying…

Q:  I graduated with a bachelor’s degree more than 40 years ago. I had a very satisfying career prior to retirement. For a long time I have pondered about going back to school to further my education. No one who has heard me say this has given me any encouragement. The general comment is I…

Q:  My retirement income makes me ineligible for any subsidies or assistance. I still have to be careful and stick to a strict monthly budget since I have minimal savings. My biggest worry is the cost of my electric bill seems to keep going up each year. Do you have any ideas on how to…