My sister-in-law is 81 years old and in an assisted living facility. Being a nun, she has served others ever since joining the order of Sisters of St. Joseph’s in her teens. Nuns take the vow of poverty, never allowed to have many possessions or money.

Under the letter that residents received, they cannot leave their room vacant for more than one night per year (was 30). I called the director of her facility, and she said the residents had received this letter from MaineCare. She had to document daily if each person was actually there that day and night. The letter stated that if they stayed away for more than one night, they could be charged up to $250 per day.

My sister-in-law might be able to absorb the costs if she wanted to visit her sister in Virginia for a week, but was unsure how the state would handle it. She didn’t know if they would force her to give the room to someone on a waiting list.

I understand that cuts need to be made in MaineCare, but what about the younger people on it who could be working?

Is this how we are going to be remembered in the future? Are we the generation that throws our elderly people into the street because they want to spend a few days with family that they have not seen in a long time?

Linda Grandmaison, Greene

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