Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

News

Stories of Volunteering and Service Across The Yearly Meeting

Written on:

Friends from meetings, regions, and communities across Philadelphia Yearly Meeting contribute to the life of our body each day. Meetings and committees record minutes, councils attend to the business of the yearly meeting, organizations throughout our region serve through ministry, and individual Friends respond to their faith through action. Each offers an opportunity to share how Friends are living their faith and serving their communities. [Read more…] about Stories of Volunteering and Service Across The Yearly Meeting

Collaboratives: Connecting Meetings and Ministries

Written on:

Collaboratives bring Friends together across Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) around shared interests, concerns, and leadings.  PYM Friends work together on matters that are important to them, including care for the Earth, ending gun violence, and spiritual formation. Each collaborative grows from the experiences and interests of the Friends who take part care for them. [Read more…] about Collaboratives: Connecting Meetings and Ministries

An Update on Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Aging Grants

Written on:

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s (PYM) Aging Grants help older Friends meet expenses related to housing, medical care, and daily living. These grants are available to eligible members and attenders of PYM monthly meetings age 60 and older who need financial assistance. Recent updates to the application process share eligibility requirements, financial information, and the support available to Friends applying for grants.

Purpose

Who is Eligible To Apply and What Are Eligible Expenses?

  • The application form today serves renewing recipients, new applicants for monthly grants, and one-time grant requests.
  • Grantees must be 60 years or older, members or attenders of PYM
  • Eligible expenses to support Friends aging in place or in residential communities include:
    • Living expenses
    • Medical expenses
    • Housing expenses
    • Home maintenance expenses

Who Completes the Application?

PYM Aging Grants applicants have seen an evolution of the grant application form from paper to online applications. The grant applicant or their identified contact person may complete the form. The applicant or their contact email address is necessary for communication with PYM.

Who Should Inform the Meeting Clerk of the Application?  

Informing the Clerks of Meetings is the applicant’s responsibility. Clerks are expected to connect with the Aging Support Coordinator to acknowledge their members.

Financial Need Requirements

Grant applicants are guided to be knowledgeable of their monthly expenses. The expenses are to be documented on the application. Today’s eligibility requirement is that aging grants will be discerned upon review of applicant’s liquid cash (savings, investments, retirement funds). Information is to be shared on the application. If the applicant’s one year’s expenses are greater than the applicant’s liquid cash, the grant groups will discern their request.

Financial Power of Attorney 

Upon receiving approval of a new monthly or one-time grant, applicants are asked to send PYM a copy of their Financial Power of Attorney within a year of a grant approval. The grant groups discerned this requirement upon finding aging friends’ health and ability to manage their funds properly, at some time, may need support and assistance. The grant funds are discerned to meet the needs of the friend and need to be managed appropriately.

PYM Support – It Takes A Team

Friends are known by their Meetings and Quarters and often are supported through the application process. Clerks of Meetings and Care and Concern Committees, friends, family members, or others may directly help the applicant complete the form.

The aging grant groups and multiple PYM staff are involved in supporting friends through the aging grant application process. Once friends are discerned approved, they are asked to complete an ACH form to assist them with direct access to their grant funds.

The aging grant groups are supported by Joey Leroux, Director of Grantmaking and Data and PYM’s Aging Support Coordinator, Sheila Sorkin, Sheila may be reached by email ssorkin@pym.org or telephone (215) 241-7068. Connect with Sheila to discuss your consideration of an aging grant application or for support through completing the application.

Long Term Care Planning: Aging In Place | Quaker Aging Resources

Written on: 

The Following is Attributed to Sheila Sorkin, Aging Support Coordinator.

Long Term Care Planning: Aging In Place

Through my experience working with aging Friends, I’ve learned some of the most difficult decisions are regarding their finances and housing.  Friends’ goals are ideally to age in place.  The impact of health changes can impact their ability and energy to manage activities of daily living without assistance.  Activities of daily living include dressing, bathing, housekeeping, meal preparation, and shopping.  Is the Friend able to ambulate within their home safely?  Does the Friend have transportation available?  The accessibility of the floor plans of the home, accumulation of belongings, the property age, maintenance, replacement and condition of their property all come into play in reaching their goal.  Affording in-home care and meeting state financial eligibility criteria for home services are accompanying concerns.

I recently attended a webinar presented by Harvard University, Housing and Aging Society, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Navigating Long-Term Care: Legal and Financial Resources.  There were several take-aways worth sharing.  Being strategic in planning and implementation of resolving retirement living concerns often takes a team including the Friend, partner, family or close Friends who are aware of the Friend’s caregiving needs and financial advisors.  Does the Friend live alone? Is the home owned?  Has a second mortgage, reverse mortgage or home equity line of credit been sought? Does the Friend have any debt, medical or credit cards? Is there a plan to manage the debt?  Consider the following information while resolving these questions.

Start the Conversation Before a Crisis

One of the strongest themes from the webinar was the importance of planning early. Documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives help preserve a person’s wishes and reduce the likelihood of court involvement during a health crisis. Encouraging proactive conversations can help families maintain choice, dignity, and control.

Understand the Funding Options Available

Many families are surprised to learn that Medicare does not cover ongoing long-term care. Understanding the range of funding options, including long-term care insurance, annuities, life settlements, home equity solutions, VA benefits, and Medicaid planning, can help families make informed decisions that fit their circumstances and goals.

Your Role Matters

You don’t need to have every answer. The faculty recommended exploring these resources:

  • In-Home Senior Care in your community
  • Understanding Guardianship and Conservatorship
  • Caregiver Support

Additional Links

Long Term Care Financial Planning

PYM State Social Services – Aging Resources: includes Services, Resources and Benefits

     Delaware

     Maryland

     New Jersey

    Pennsylvania

Health Care Costs Support

Debt Management

Quaker Aging Resources

Quaker Aging Resources | Providing Spirit-Centered Information offers friends support with pamphlets, articles and stories in addition to informational links.  While it seems to be overwhelming, PYM offers support as well.  The PYM Aging Support Coordinator, Sheila Sorkin, ssorkin@pym.org  can guide friends through the Aging Grants application process and seeking information and referrals.  Friends Counseling Services Counseling – Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is another source of support.

This article, written by Sheila Sorkin, PYM Aging Support Coordinator, is part of the To Brighten Your Day series: stories that explore the lives of our aging community members in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

World Quaker Day is October 4

Written on:

World Quaker Day, organized and programmed by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), will take place on October 4, bringing Friends from different Quaker traditions, languages, and parts of the world together.

Friends can participate in three online sessions throughout the day. The first will introduce this year’s theme with Friends from the Asia West Pacific Section. A six-hour period of worship will follow, with Friends from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world sharing during the worship. The day will close with Friends in New Zealand reflecting on peace and justice.

Each hour of worship will be hosted by Friends from a different part of the world, including communities living with conflict and violence. This gives Friends an opportunity to listen to experiences that may be far from their own and consider how faith informs responses to conflict, peace, and justice.

For Friends on the East Coast, the three sessions will take place at 3:00 am, 7:00 am–1:00 pm, and 6:00 pm EDT. All sessions will be held online via Zoom.

This year’s Bible passage is Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.”

Friends are invited to participate as schedules allow. Those who cannot attend online can still mark World Quaker Day within their meetings or communities and share how they participated.

Registration is required.

We’re Excited for Benjamin Lay’s Return This October| Press Release

Written on: 

The following is attributed to Lee Hall of Radnor Meeting.

We’re excited! Three of our local Meetings will welcome Mark Povinelli, as Benjamin, reading a condensed version of the original play The Return of Benjamin Lay. Each performance will also include a discussion with the actor, joined by historian/playwright Marcus Rediker. Invite a friend or two! [Read more…] about We’re Excited for Benjamin Lay’s Return This October| Press Release

Update your contact & Meeting information at pym.org/updates

© 2026 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting · Privacy Policy