This is my friend, Ruth Greenhalgh. I bet you would never guess that she is 103 years old! She is amazingly healthy and her mind is sharp as a tack. Her only deficit is being legally blind and hearing impaired. Her husband passed away many years ago and she had twin daughters who died two weeks after they were born.
Ruth was one of six children who grew up on a farm in Rhode Island. She was a registered nurse and a partner with her husband in a hardware store they owned in West Palm Beach, FL.
Although extremely frugal throughout her life, Ruth has come to the unfortunate situation of having outlived her money. She took out a reverse mortgage eight years ago but most of that is gone. We've tried to obtain a new reverse mortgage for her but after the housing bust in South Florida she has very little equity in her house. Selling the house isn't really a viable option either because after the sale she would net very little money and then have no place to live. We've contacted her only living brother but his family says they are in no position to help her. Her church has begun collecting food donations for her for which she is very appreciative. Ruth requires the services of aides several hours a day because she can not see to prepare her own meals. Unfortunately those necessary services come at a high price. She has been on the waiting list for state funded services for over two years. She is too healthy to qualify for a skilled nursing facility and could not afford to live in an assisted living facility.
I've started this fund drive as a last resort for Ruth. Any little bit helps and will be greatly appreciated.