Testimonial

Ms. Pinkleton (not the client's real name) was a local gas company customer and had been for many years. One of the new policies, through the unregulated gas companies, was to charge all clients who did not maintain a certain amount of gas in their tank a “low consumption fee”.  Ms. Pinkleton only used her gas for heat and was very conservative, so she fell below the cut off and was charged the $100 low consumption fee.  To fill her tank above the cut off would have cost her well over $200. She did not have the $200 and did not feel that she should pay the $100 “low consumption” fee because she had been conservative.  Well, her biggest concern was running out of gas before the winter was over or getting her gas cut off for not paying the fee.  When she contacted M4A, we were able to talk with the gas company and set up an agreement that if Ms. Pinkleton filled the tank up they would drop the charge.  We contacted a local organization in St. Clair County, and they agreed to fill the tank well above the low consumption cut off. This, in turn, got the low consumption fee of $100 dropped and gave the client gas to get through the winter.
– Anonymous

News - Helping Seniors Stay Healthy

Feb 02, 2010

From the Shelby County Reporter 

http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/2010/feb/02/helping-seniors-stay-healthy/

By Kelly Flick / Guest Columnist

Published Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Ask seniors where they’d like to spend their day, and they’d likely say in the comfort of their own home. By providing support services to seniors, the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A) is helping individuals 60 years of age and older do just that.

Many seniors don’t need much to be self-sufficient, but the provision of a hot meal or other safety devices makes a significant difference in their quality of life.

Through grants by the Shelby County Community Health Foundation (SCCHF) and the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS), M4A is able to provide individuals 60 and older with meals five days a week as well as equip them with LifeLine, an emergency alert service device.

The nutritional meals are available Monday through Friday during the lunch hour. For seniors who can drive and are interested in interacting with other seniors or participating in activities, meals can be received at one of six senior centers in the county. For those who cannot drive or leave their home, meals are delivered by volunteers.

The LifeLine emergency alert service is a lightweight necklace that alerts the fire department, police department or 911 when the senior activates a button on the necklace. Although most people think of these devices exclusively for medical situations, such as falls or chest pains, it can be used to report a suspected break in or fire.

“These grants have enabled us to provide exceptional services to more individuals than we have in the past and for that we’re grateful,” said Carolyn Fortner, executive director of M4A. “To know we’re helping our seniors continue to live as they choose, by their own direction, is heartwarming. And, it is the trend of the future in senior services.”

Both of these programs are provided free of charge to seniors in Shelby County. Although donations are accepted, seniors are not required to donate to receive services. Interested seniors are asked to contact M4A at 670-5770 to learn more about these programs.

Kelly Flick is the director of operations and programs for M4A.


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