Spring is a time to clean, sort, throw away. Fall is a time to plan and prepare for the Winter and beyond. Many senior citizens should add to their lists: 'To learn about the options available to them for decision making assistance.'

Do you understand what Power of Attorney means? Have you signed a Helath Care Proxy? What is Guardianship or Conservatorship?

"Decisions regarding where you live and with whom, how you spend, save or invest money, and which doctor or hospital you go to may not seem significant to you today; but what if, in the future, someone else had to make these decisions for you?" Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and Secretary of Elder Affairs Franklin Ollivierre use this comment to introduce a pamphlet they produced with funding from COM/GAS.

The pamphlet is available through the Cambridge Council on Aging and also through the Cambridge Consumers' Council by calling 349-6150. It is called Who Will Make Your Personal, Financial, and Health Decisions When You Can't? It will help you answer these questions and help you understand some options that are available to you.

You should also know that the Money Management Program is available through SCES at 628-2601. This program can match you with a local volunteer who will help you balance your checkbook each month and manage your monthly bill paying responsibilities if you need this assistance and don't have a family member to turn to. Some seniors might even want to inquire if they could become a volunteer with this program to help another senior.

When the new Cambridge Senior Center opens, the Consumers' Council in partnership with COA intends to conduct a number of workshops that will address various financial planning, consumer protection and resource options for seniors.

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