We can provide guidance and help to good Samaritans

On behalf of caregivers and those for whom they care, I want to thank the PG for the recent Elder Law column (“If You’re Playing the Good Samaritan, Tread Lightly,” March 26) in which the writers caution individuals about the possible financial and legal pitfalls involved when assuming billpaying responsibilities for those unable to perform this task for themselves.

The column appropriately points out that regardless of a person’s intentions for providing such help, no one is above questioning by family members or government agencies (including the IRS, Social Security Administration or Pennsylvania Department of Human Services) as to how bills were paid and if they were recorded properly. As a nonprofit agency that provides bill-paying supports through a contract with the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging and representative payee services through the Social Security Administration to many individuals in this region, Ursuline Support Services is well aware of the legal and financial mess well-meaning people incur because they undertook this task on their own.

Additionally, we also have witnessed too many vulnerable people who put their trust in those they thought would have their best interests in mind, only to be defrauded (often undetected) until their money is depleted and the innocent victim is left with few good options.

For these reasons, we applaud elder law attorneys Julian Gray and Frank Petrich, who wrote the column, for suggesting that any potential “good Samaritans” not be afraid to seek guidance on how best to handle similar situations — such as through a monitored third-party provider, like Ursuline, thereby applying a layer of protection for all concerned. KAREN MILLER-TOBIN Director of Independence

Support Services Ursuline Support Services

Squirrel Hill