I visited with another of my interviewees today, an actress from the 1950s. This was the first time I had met her in person and was shocked to find that she is practically destitute.
Well, not even practically, she is destitute.
The poor woman lives on less than $900 a month Social Security plus $180 worth of food stamps. Her rent takes up every last bit of cash money and she has to rely on the $50.00 her brother sends her each month for her and her dog's medicine. She buys the dog human food and goes without, herself. She is thin as a rail and quite frail and She sold her car a couple of months ago just to pay her bills.
I took her to lunch at The Sportsman's Lodge, which she loved as she had gone there many times back in the day. Since I had a car I took her grocery shopping and to her pharmacy and on a few other errands. We had a lot of fun, but I just feel so sorry for her. I am going to do some searching on subsidized senior housing for her. I know she would be eligible, but it would have to be someplace she could have her dog as she will not give him up. He is 14 years old and she has had him since he was a pup....and he is one great, wonderful dog! Very sweet and very well behaved... but quite large, so it might be difficult finding a place that she can have him.
