Bill paying can be stressful for a variety of reasons. Not enough money to cover expenses is but one.

However, money isn’t the problem for some people. For them, the simple act of writing checks is nearly impossible. Or keeping the finances straight and the checkbook balanced has become too much to handle.

If this sounds familiar and you are having a hard time, or you have a loved one who is in need of assistance with bills, Eastern Area Agency on Aging has a program that can make your life easier.

“The Money Management Program helps seniors or disabled adults organize their bills, balance their checkbooks and pay bills on a regular basis,” said Lee White, program coordinator. “This program can help these individuals stay independent and in control of their finances and retain their privacy.”

Some of those who may be helped by this program are:

. People who have vision problems or who have difficulty writing checks because their hand shakes badly due to Parkinson’s.

. Someone with mild memory loss who can’t remember if a bill was paid.

. The senior whose late spouse handled all the finances and now is at a loss as to what to do. In some cases the bills just pile up because the person becomes overwhelmed.

“This program uses highly trained volunteers, typically with a business or financial background, who have had background checks performed and who are monitored monthly.” said White.

“The volunteers can meet individuals in their homes or in a safe convenient location. This program also can keep seniors from taking their checkbooks to the bank to be figured out, which happens quite a bit. And the individual’s bank will be informed that a volunteer is helping the client pay bills and will be participating in monitoring the account for the protection of the client.”

There are some income and asset guidelines that need to be met in order to be eligible for the program. “The Money Management Program helps the clients know exactly how much income they have coming into and out of their account,” White said. “It can help these people have a sense of security and relieve their stress knowing that their bills are being paid on time and their checkbook is regularly balanced – and the peace of mind knowing that there is someone available to them that they can rely on for assistance as financial issues come up, and who will help budget and save for future necessary expenses, such as home or car repairs.”

There are some key points to remember about this program, said White:

. Those participating must be able physically to sign their own checks and have a full understanding of the how the program works.

. Participants are in full control of their accounts at all times.

. Volunteer bill payers do not sign checks for the client, and do not have access to the person’s account.

. Participants and volunteers sign a contract of understanding so they each know what to expect from the other.

“There is also an added benefit” to the program, White said. “The volunteers are trained to watch for things that may be out of the ordinary. For example, a person who suddenly starts subscribing to dozens of magazines, etc. This program can prevent people from being exploited, abused and-or neglected. Those are red flags.”

Having your finances organized can relieve your stress and keep you from dreading bill-paying day. A little help can go a long way toward peace of mind.

There is no fee for this service. If you need help or if you’d like to volunteer, call EAAA at 941-2865.

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. Email Higgins Taylor at chtaylor@eaaa.org. For information on EAAA, call 941-2865, toll-free 800-432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.