CDBG Appreciation Week

When the City of Biddeford contracted with Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging (SMAAA) for a part-time Senior Advocate at a cost of $22,000/year, expectations were high. It was well-documented that senior citizens were not taking full advantage of benefits for which they were entitled, and they believed a Senior Advocate was part of the solution.

Linda Lambert, Senior Advocate, explains benefits to a Biddeford resident.

For many low- and moderate-income seniors, an added benefit can mean the ability to buy food and medication. The Senior Advocate works with seniors to help them apply for those benefits.

“The results were astounding,” said Linda Hardacker, Biddeford 's Community Development Coordinator. “In the second year of the program, we expected SMAAA to serve 300 seniors. They served 820!”

“People come to me for all kinds of assistance, but the first thing I look at,” says Senior Advocate Linda Lambert, “is medical expenses, including insurances and prescription drugs. Programs and application forms are complicated, and most people are so overwhelmed or too intimidated to do a thorough analysis. That's where I can usually help people save some money.”

Ms. Lambert recently worked with a woman who received $600 a month in Social Security and had depleted her savings to $27 in order to buy her prescription drugs. Ms. Lambert was not only able to help the woman save money, but she also helped her eliminate most of her out-of-pocket costs for drugs.

“And, not too long ago, a couple came in to see me for help. Each of them had about 15 prescription drugs and couldn't afford to buy them all.” Ms. Lambert spent hours reviewing programs and comparing plans, but it paid off. She was able to save each of them nearly $20,000 a year.

Not everyone saved that much. The estimated average savings was $1,500 per person for a total of $1.23 million. “I spend a lot of time educating people on what they have, what it covers and what it doesn't, and how they can do better.” For many, that has been a lifesaver.