What We Believe

Adopted unanimously by the H.E.L.P. Board of Directors on September 23, 1998

• We believe that Older Adults are valuable people.
• We believe that Older Adults
• want to be independent, to protect themselves, and to solve their own problems,
• and that they can and will help themselves.
• We believe that, like all people, each Older Adult has strengths and weaknesses,
• that the great majority are healthy,
• that the great majority are quite capable of making solid decisions, given good information,
• but that a portion of the Older Adult population is at risk.
• We believe that many Older Adults face obstacles,
• that our legal, financial, tax and healthcare systems are confusing and challenging for young and old alike,
• and that Older Adults all too often are the target of scams and of those who would like to take unfair advantage of others,
• but that they can avoid unnecessary losses by receiving information and support.
• We believe that legal, financial, accounting, healthcare, social, governmental and other important services are available to Older Adults,
• but that Older Adults often fail to access these services for a variety of reasons, including lack of clear information, inertia, denial, frailty, concern about cost, suspicion, and negative past experiences.
• We believe that care giving family and friends are valuable people,
• that they are often heroes, providing loving and valuable care in stressful circumstances,
• and that they need information and support.
• We believe that in all of our dealings with Older Adults and care giving family and friends,
• empathetic listening, honesty, forthrightness and clarity are all necessities,
• that we should serve whether the person is strong or vulnerable, and healthy or ill, and without regard to the person's income or resources
• And, we believe that by providing accurate, unbiased, clear information and advice to Older Adults and care giving family and friends, and helping them help themselves, we will help Older Adults live better, longer.