At age 104, woman runs out of money
Fundraiser set up to help her stay in nursing home
A centenarian without any surviving relatives needs financial help to stay in her assisted living facility.
MEDIA » It’s the problem most people fear when they get older — outliving their money.
Gertrude Kroberger turned 104 years old last month, and she has depleted just all the money she saved during her lifetime.
A resident at Sunrise at Granite Run, an assisted living facility, she only receives about $1,000 per month from Social Security, and a $63 per month pension from her work at the former Lit Brothers.
And she has no direct living relatives.
Kroberger, who is legally blind and is battling dementia, has enjoyed life at Sunrise since 2009. But since Sunrise does not accept Medicaid, Kroberger will be forced out if money isn’t forthcoming.
As is popular today for many different causes, a GoFundMe site was set up by Patricia Poppert, a very distant relative, of Kroberger’s. Poppert said the funds will be used to keep Kroberger at Sunrise for at least a year. So far, $1.190 has been raised of a $75,000 goal.
“Gertrude is very happy (at Sunrise), has made a lot of friends and enjoys the activities,” Poppert said.
Kroberber, who never married but worked her entire life, managed to get by until recently. She never expected to live so long.
“Gertrude is full of life and is very active,” Poppert said. “She gets around well with her walker and enjoys her mobility. Life is good. She is not ill and has few medical needs so the limitations in a nursing home setting will take away her independence and freedom.”
Kroberger lived in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia most of her life. For many years, she took care of her aging mother, until she died at the age of 103.
She lived in her home until 2009 when she needed full-time care. Her home was sold at auction and everything she owned discarded.
“Gertrude did not have an article of clothing, a photograph, not one-single memento of her 95 years.,” Poppert said. “She did not even have her eyeglasses to see. The news of this tragedy was one of the saddest days of my life.”
Poppert said Kroberger has a 70-year-old boyfriend she met at Sunrise.
If she is forced to leave due to the inability to pay, she would be forced to move to an assisted-care facility that accepts Medicaid.
The GoFundMe site for Kroberger is https://www. gofundme.com/help-gertrude-stay-in-her-home.