Resource Center transportation funds shrink, removing options for the handicapped
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BY LINDA JUMP Richard Kingston relies upon the Resource Center for Disability Solutions for free rides to his medical appointments, but soon may have to rely on family or friends as state matching funds are reduced drastically. Kingston, 66, has no car or license but needs twice-weekly hospital treatments for myasthenic gravis, a rare incurable neuromuscular disorder. The blind amputee, who uses a wheelchair, also has other medical conditions. “I’ve also used Space Coast Area Transit’s paratransit door-to-door service, but it’s often all booked up and their route doesn’t include two of my doctors, including my endocrinologist. And if my doctor runs late, I’m out of luck and stuck there. Sometimes, they’re not on time.” Paratransit service goes door to door for $1.50 each way for qualified riders who can’t use their fixed routes, with a week’s notice. Family that he lives with work and can’t afford to take time off so often to provide his rides. Officials at the disability center are just as concerned, but say they have to cut somewhere. “We need to come up with 75 percent of the budget, or we’ll run out of money halfway through the fiscal year next month,” said Ken Kerstetter, the program director. He said the state Department of Transportation cut $55,000 from its budget to operate in
Bluewater Creative Group - Issu SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump
Rosemary Miles, the executive director, and Ken Kerstetter, the program director of the Resource Center for Disability Solutions, lament the nonprofit’s transportation budget cut that threatens services through the rest of the year. urban areas, 80 percent of its riders and about $20,000 from small urban areas, which would have to stop services next spring. “Those funds are matched, so that’s $150,000 we have to find somewhere.” That’s not easy, he said, because they can’t cut federal and staterequired core services. “It leaves us in an extremely bad situation.” RCDS works with handicapped residents for Brevard and Indian River Counties to help them live independently. Kerstetter said with more than 300 people on its waiting list for rides, they hoped to expand its transportation services, not cut it. Last year, RCDS provided more than 100,000 miles of
trips with four wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Rosemary Miles, the executive director, said its services have been Difficulty: Medium offered for 20 years, and demand keeps increasing as the population ages. Five years ago, county funding ended, she said. “We currently have 256 persons approved for transportation, with even more — 300 people — waiting. We’ll try to work with clients, but a lot of people don’t have another option. It’s sad all the way around.” As for Kingston? “It’s a shame. The only thing I can do is try to use SCAT for the hospital and not go to the other doctors until I get a ride somehow.” SL
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of Living to Age 100 Ed Baranowski electronic payments changed how money moved from buyer to seller. Want cash? No need to go to the bank, stand in line and wait for a teller. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) appeared in the late 1960s, Networks have spread across the world, making it easy to get cash anywhere. With every innovation comes benefits and risks. We may no longer need to carry cash or checks. Transfers, payments and security are enhanced. Risks include frauds, hackers, access codes and forgotten passwords. Recurring payment systems insure a senior that bills are paid when you forget, travel or are hospitalized. Accept the challenge! Understand and use convenient, secure payment systems; protect your passwords and codes; protect your cards. Looking ahead: a retinal scan, a fingerprint or a voice print can give you access to payment systems. Check your account statements regularly. You must give notice in a timely manner to recover funds from identity theft or errors. SL Ed Baranowski is an awardwinning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com.
26 SENIOR LIFE • NOVEMBER 2023
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6 5 Solution to2Crossword: 7 4 S P A T S E L L C H A P S 8 C L U E L2 E V E E T O D O U P O N R E S T A U R A N T 4I N D I 3C T D E R E L I C T A D O P T I R K L E O 1 9 6 2 C O T S T R O N G E R A Copyright G I 2023 L Eby The Puzzle I N Syndicate C U R A B L E S C I O N C R U D S L O E S E N S A T I O N B E A R D S T R A N G L E S K Y T A N R I D E S A D S L O O K A T G U N S M I T H P E E T I N D I C A T I O N A G U E T R A M S N A C K P O S T Y E L L T A S K S
Puzzle on page 21 Solution to Sudoku:
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Society changes from barter to cashless Barter to cashless — we’re constantly evolving in payment innovation. Are you still using checks and cash? You must be a senior. I planned to use quarters in a meter at the beach parking lot. Instead, I found directions on how to use payment cards. We’ve come a long way since barter exchanges and carrying a small bag of gold. Coins, paper currency and checks have been around for ages. In the early 1950s, the banking industry talked about changes in payment systems. In graduate school in the 1960s, I included a “less check, less cash society” segment in my research. By the 1970s, a checkless and cashless society grew. Evolving payment systems abounded. JCPenney insisted on no credit. His middle name was “Cash.” After watching Sears and Montgomery Ward grow sales with credit cards, he agreed to change. I worked in a pilot credit card program at the Penney’s store in Wausau, Wisconsin. I had authority to approve $50 limits. How far would that get you today? Credit cards evolved to debit cards. Social Security payments were made as direct deposits to your checking account. Automated clearing houses (ACH) handled recurring payments without the need to write monthly checks. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) systems were started with the Federal Reserve to handle payments. Check processing was expensive. Cleared and endorsed checks were mailed back to customers. Sorting machines and basement rooms of workers moved paper endlessly. New
and local civic groups such as the Eau Gallie Yacht Club. He has offered monthly talks at Buena Vida Estates in Melbourne for 12 years. Steve Caiati, the lifestyle director, said, “Ed brings such life to his lectures with comedy and inspiration, and he always has some sort of life lesson to add.” Baranowski earned a business education degree from Whitewater State Teachers’ College in Wisconsin, and he wrote for The Royal Purple, the school paper. He taught in Wausau, where he advised the newspaper and yearbook. He led veteran extension classes for the University of Wisconsin on time management, leaving teaching in 1965 for a second career with credit unions. Baranowski wrote 85 articles for Credit Union Management magazine. In 1969, he formed Topics Unlimited, a business that lasted until the pandemic. It offered talks and workshops about a variety of topics. “I picked up paychecks from 49 Edite states, Australia and Canada.” “I began to look at obituaries for people who lived to be 100 to find common elements. They were Godcentered people with a good family, good work and good health habits. So, I pitched a series of eight articles to E Jill (Blue),” Baranowski said. con His columns earned him a best column award from the North 1 to American Mature Publishers Association. m Look for his current column num “Society changes from barter to cashless” on this page. SL ea
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