JOE is 64-years-old and suffers from short-term memory loss. While he now has someone to look after his welfare, that was not always the case. For nearly a year, Joe’s son was regularly withdrawing money from his bank account. Yet Joe was behind in his bills and was in danger of being evicted from his home. His son could not explain why. When an FCS APS (Adult Protective Services) social worker investigated, she found that Joe was being financially exploited by his son and money that was intended for Joe’s own needs was being taken from him. APS investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of vulnerable adults. Because Joe could no longer look after himself or manage his own bills, APS took steps that led to the appointment of a guardian. Now Joe is well cared for, his bills paid, and he remains healthy and safe in his own home.

MIKE, who is diabetic and was finishing cancer treatments, was down to his last couple of days of medications. Because of a clerical error, Mike was inadvertently enrolled in Medicare. This meant that he was immediately dis-enrolled from Medicaid which had been paying for his costly but critically needed medical care and prescription drugs. When Medicare noticed the mistake, they also terminated his coverage, leaving him with no coverage at all and no access to the nearly two dozen medications he needed to survive. In desperation, and when repeated calls to Medicaid didn’t fix the error, Mike’s wife called SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) at FCS for help. SHIP provides specially-trained counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate the complex Medicare system. A SHIP counselor was able to quickly rectify the problem and get Mike re-enrolled so he could get the life-saving medications he needed just in the nick of time.

MARIE is a recipient of the FCS Statewide Respite Care Program. At age 34, Marie sustained a brain injury that resulted in total dependence on others for all her needs. Her parents, who are both in their 70s, took over Marie’s care and quickly depleted their retirement savings, converting their home and their van to make them handicap accessible, and paying for an RN to come in daily to assist with Marie’s care. Marie cannot be left alone and often two people are required to assist her. Marie’s parents have two other children and 10 grandchildren who live out-of-state. They have not visited their family since Marie came to live with them five years ago. With assistance from the Statewide Respite Care Program, FCS placed a Certified Home Health Aide with Marie in their home so they could take a trip to see their family for a short time, giving them peace of mind that their daughter was well cared for while they were away.

Joe, Mike and Marie and their families are just a few of the over 9,000 people FCS helps each year. During this season of giving, we ask you to please consider making a gift to FCS to help those who are in most need in our community and sustain the mission-driven work our social workers, nurses, home health and supportive care aides, support staff and volunteers do every day, all year long.

No matter the size of your gift, please know we are grateful for your kindness and generosity, especially during this holiday season when the needs of others are foremost in our minds. We wish you a very happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season.

Deborah G. Zilai                                   

Chair, FCS Board of Directors

Delly Beekman

CEO                         

Your generous support helps sustain FCS in its continued Mission

to provide compassionate care, education and intervention to people

during challenging times in their lives.