Alfred Gordon
As my father aged, I saw his embarrassment when he was no longer able to manage his finances and paperwork.
I knew it was time for me to take this off his shoulders.After that, he never had to worry about missing payments or deciphering baffling insurance bills. It was deeply gratifying to give him more independence and dignity.After my father passed away my mom started to decline. She had a very hard time recuperating from hip surgery and eventually could no longer walk unassisted. With the help of a Geriatric Care Manager and an Elder Law Attorney, we were able to have mom participate in New York State’s Community Medicaid program. This allowed my mother to age-in-place and pass her legacy on to her children.
Through this experience, I learned the intricacies of Community Medicaid and how to manage a Pooled Income Trust. My mom was able to stay in her Manhattan apartment and enjoy a few more years of having her beloved six grandchildren visit her on a daily basis, a best case scenario.During this time, I was transitioning from a career in the graphic design industry and was in something of a mid-life crisis. The economy was in flux, as was the world of graphic communications. I had become an “old man” in a young person’s industry.
What I did know was that I loved helping my parents and realized that I could do that for others. With that in mind, I decided to become a Daily Money Manager.
We help seniors pay bills and stay on top of their household finances.
One of the biggest nightmares for seniors is filing and managing their health insurance claims. They may be dealing with multiple health issues which is often a major burden. There is an art to filing the paperwork and if not done correctly, claims are denied. This is where we make a huge impact.
Many seniors are on a fixed income, and are concerned about getting the most mileage for their money. However, they don’t necessarily know how much money is coming in as well as what their actual expenses are . We report to them monthly, so they know if they have enough money to visit their families or buy a new TV.We personally handle the bookkeeping, paperwork and keep a watchful eye on our client’s bank and credit card accounts. We make sure bills are paid on time, their accounts are reconciled, and they stay on budget.Importantly, having a neutral third-party money manager and advocate helps prevent financial abuse and identity theft to which seniors are especially vulnerable. We often act as a buffer with family members when seniors are uncomfortable discussing financial matters or fear they don’t have their best interests in mind.
Let’s face it. When you visit your aging parents, who wants to be sorting through the mail, making sure their cable isn’t turned off or their insurance company isn’t over billing?
Take them out to lunch and leave the paperwork to us.