Elderly woes

We read in the July 5 New York Times that a 62-year-old lady in Michigan has been receiving Meals on Wheels delivered to her, but is not to continue to receive them because gas prices have made the deliveries too expensive.

She is housebound and has been unable to use her left arm since a stroke in 1992.

Agencies that provide services to the elderly say they have to cut back on programs like Meals on Wheels, home assistance and home care, especially in rural areas that depend on volunteers who provide their own gas.

Another lady in Michigan who has Alzheimer’s receives help from a home health aide to care for her and her husband. Their aide has driven 100 miles to care for them, but is not sure how long she can continue. The aide has received $9 an hour for her work. If she leaves, the husband could not care for his wife, which would mean nursing home care for both of them.

I have recently read the Feb. 14 American Journal Page 1 article, “Quality of Life,” telling of residents from Westbrook’s Larrabee Village who attended a meeting in Augusta concerning a cut in funding for independent living projects, by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The 22 Larrabee Village residents were among many elderly people and their caregivers who packed the Feb. 7 meeting. Without state money to pay for help with basic needs like cooking a meal or getting a shower, many would no longer be able to stay at home and out of institutional care. Gerald Finks, the president of the resident council at Larrabee Village, said that he thought the hearing went well and he was proud of his fellow residents for speaking up for themselves. He said, “We’re all trying to pull together to maintain this building because it would be a catastrophe if anything happened to it.”

Much of that funding was eventually restored.

School bargains

The July 5 Boston Globe featured an article that the faltering U. S. dollar, which has lost value around the world, has produced a silver lining for foreign students, and the American universities that recruit them. The cost of college, for any foreign students, has dropped.

“Everyone wants an American education, but for many families the cost has been prohibitive,” said an officer at Suffolk University, which attributes a sharp rise in international enrollment this fall to the exchange rate. “But now the dollar has made coming here so much more attractive and realistic.” The article says that, “Widely considered the worldwide gold standard for higher education, American universities have suddenly emerged as a bargain for a growing number of international students whose yen, rupees, and pounds go much further than they used to.”

“As the throngs of foreign tourists who flock to Harvard Yard and other local campuses attest, the Boston area has long been a beacon for international students. With nearly 24,000 foreign students, Boston is the country’s third-leading host city, trailing New York and Los Angeles. Higher-education institutions such as Harvard University, Boston College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Northeastern are known around the world,” the Globe said.

At Dean College in Franklin, scores of international students have spent the past few months taking English classes, drawn by the opportunity to learn English in a surprisingly inexpensive locale. “It wasn’t the only reason, but it was pretty important,” said an 18-year-old from the Czech Republic, of his decision to study in the United States. “I checked into London, but it was twice the price.”

Another student at Dean, a 23-year-old from Brazil, said the increase of that country’s currency has made her five-month stay here a relative bargain. Not only were classes far more affordable, she estimates she saved $1,500 in buying a laptop and digital camera, and that’s not even counting the clothes. “$799 for an HP laptop, with a nice, big screen,” she said with a satisfied smile. “Amazing.”

Some colleges say they would like to expand recruitment to capitalize on the currency situation.

Long-time favorite

Today’s recipe is one that was very popular at our house, one from the days when my mother hired a well-known cook, Mrs. Vanderward, to come prepare special meals when she entertained her bridge club friends.

MRS. VANDERWARD’S COLD WATER CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 cup sugar

1?2 cup shortening

2 eggs, beaten

1 square of unsweetened chocolate (more if desired)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1?2 teaspoon cream of tartar

11?2 cups flour

1?2 cup cold water

Vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together. Melt 1 or more squares of chocolate. Mix together chocolate, cold water, a little vanilla and eggs. Slowly add dry ingredients while mixing. Pour batter into 8-inch-by-8-inch pan. Bake in 350 oven for 3/4 hour. Cool and frost if desired.