Question:
I am a 70 year old man and want to return to school to get certified for a health services profession.  How can I do this for free? I am also in the midst of home improvements.

Answer:
It is wonderful that you are continuing to live your life to its fullest and that you want contribute to society in a way that helps others. Our country should help people like you as much as possible because you may have another 30 years to help the rest of us. Let's see what we can do.

Over 350 Colleges For Free Because You Are Over 60

Although it sounds like you have already identified the colleges that you want to attend, you should also be aware that there are hundreds of colleges that you can attend for free just because you are over 60.  These programs are at most state supported colleges and community colleges and they offer courses and even degrees for free or for a very low cost.  They are available in every state and here are the contacts for the colleges in Washington.

If you are not already committed, you may want to check each of these to see if they have a similar program that you can take for FREE or for a lot less.

Washington

Washington State University Vancouver
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA 99686-9600
360-546-9779
Fax: 360-546-9032
www.vancouver.wsu.edu/pc/gettingstarted.htm#waiver
Senior citizens who are at least 60 years old and older are eligible for tuition waivers.  Waivers are limited to no more than 6 credits per semester.  All classes are on a space available basis.  Students are responsible for registration and course fees.

Clark College
1800 E. McLoughlin Boulevard
Vancouver, WA 98663
360-992-2000
http://www.clark.edu/adult_continuing/index.php
Senior residents of Washington may be eligible for tuition waivers. Contact the above address to see if you qualify.

Washington State University
Office of Registrar
P.O. Box 641035
Pullman, WA 99164-1035
509-335-5346
Fax: 509-335-7823
www.ronet.wsu.edu/ROPubs/Forms/SeniorCitizenTuitionWaiverRequest.pdf

South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98106-1499
206-764-7938
www.southseattle.edu/programs/seniorreg.pdf
Washington residents who are at least 60 years old may enroll in up to two courses each quarter for $5 per class. 

Walla Walla Community College
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-552-2500
877-992-9922
www.wwcc.edu/admiss/cost.cfm
Washington residents who are at least 60 years old may enroll in up to two non-credit courses for $2.50 per class on a space available basis. 

University of Washington
Registration Office
225 Schmitz Hall
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-4000
www.washington.edu/students/reg/tuition_exempt_reductions.html

Lake Washington Technical College
11605 132nd Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034-8506
425-739-8100
www.lwtc.ctc.edu/future/classinfo/tuition/
Senior citizens who are at least 65 years old may enroll in classes at a 35% tuition discount if space is available after the course begins.

Skagit Valley College
Registrar Office
Whidbey Island Campus
1900 SE Pioneer Way
Oak Harbor, WA 98227
360-416-7738
www.skagit.edu/news.asp_Q_pagenumber_E_748
Washington residents who are at least 60 years old may enroll in up to two courses for $5 per class if space is available.  Students are responsible for technology and other general fees.

Central Washington University
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-963-1111
www.cwu.edu/~catalogs/02_tuition.html
Seniors 60 years old and older may audit two courses on the first day of class for $5 per class, not to exceed six credits.  Students must receive the permission of the instructor and admission is on a space available basis. 

Green River Community College
12401 SE 320th Street
Auburn, WA 98092-3699
253-833-9111
www.greenriver.edu/admisandreg/TuitionFees.htm
Seniors who are at least 60 years old may enroll in courses if space is available for $5 per class.

Community College of Spokane
2000 N. Greene Street
Spokane, WA 99217-5499
509-533-8006
www.ccs.spokane.edu/Students/tuition.aspx
Seniors who are at least 60 years old may enroll in courses for $2.50 per class with a maximum of two classes if space is available.  Students are responsible for additional fees and parking. 

University of Washington, Bothell
18115 Campus Way NE
Bothell, WA 98011-8246
425-352-5300
www.uwb.edu/students/registration/exemptreduc.html

Health Care Scholarships

There is a lot of scholarship money for people who want to study in the health care field. Here is a listing of some that are available. I am not sure that many of these will be helpful, but I would check if any of these health-related scholarships will also pay for massage therapists' classes. You never know.

1) Full-Tuition and Books Scholarships Plus $1,100/mo Stipend

The Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP or "Nursing Scholarship") is a competitive Federal program which awards scholarships to individuals for attendance at schools of nursing.  The scholarship consists of payment for tuition, fees, other reasonable educational costs, and a monthly support stipend of $1,100 per month.  You can go to school full-time or part-time. In return, the students agree to provide a minimum of two years of full-time clinical service (or an equivalent part-time commitment, as approved by the NSP) at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.  You must be willing to be placed at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.  You could be placed in the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands. For more information call:
1-866-867-6856 or email: nhsc@iqsolutions.com.

Or contact the program headquarters address below:
Nurse Education Branch
Division of Nursing
Bureau of Health Professions
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-36
Rockville, MD 20857
301-443-3232
www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/scholarship/default.htm

2) $2,500 for B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. Nursing Degrees
CampusRN, the leading employment website for nursing/allied health care students and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) have partnered to offer this new scholarship program for students pursuing professional nursing education programs.  Established in April 2003, this scholarship program supports students who are seeking a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. Special consideration will be given to students who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program with the goal of pursuing a nursing faculty career, completing an RN to baccalaureate program (BSN), or enrolled in an accelerated baccalaureate or master's degree nursing program. Applications are only accepted by e-mail. To apply, download the application from:
http://campusrn.com/register/student_1.asp and then copy and paste your resume under the "Additional Application" section. Email the application to scholarships@campuscareercenter.com.

3) A Whole Bunch of Nursing Scholarships
There has to be over 100 sources of money to study nursing here. I ran into this verifying the info above. This should keep you out of the coffee shop for awhile: http://campusrn.com/scholarships/scholarship_list.asp?browse=A

4) Tylenol Gives $10,000 to Health Professions
The Tylenol Brand Scholarship Fund awarded 10 scholarships worth $10,000 and 150 scholarships worth $1,000 to students nationally in 2003. The requirements for 2003 applicants were that undergraduate, graduate student, or high school senior standing, demonstration of leadership in community and school activities, and intention to major in areas that will lead to careers in health-related fields. Must be enrolled at an accredited two- or four-year college for the following academic year.  To see any changes in requirements, contact Tylenol Scholarship below:

Tylenol Scholarship
Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc.
1505 Riverview Road, PO Box 88
St. Peter, MN 56082
www.scholarship.tylenol.com

5) $1,000 for Operating Room Nurses
You can receive funding for research that you need to do to complete your master's degree. It just depends on what field you are interested in. The Association of Operating Room Nurses Foundation offers financial assistance for nurses doing research on any of AORN's research priorities.  Go to their website to see if you are interested in pursuing research on any of those topics. You must be an AORN member to qualify for the grant. Contact:

AORN Foundation/Scholarship Application
2170 South Parker Road, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80231
303-755-6300, ext. 366
www.aorn.org/research/grantprgm.htm
nharbin@aorn.org

6) Johnson & Johnson gives $15,000 for Nursing Faculty
Johnson and Johnson has recently contributed large amounts toward nursing education. Apparently there is a shortage, and Johnson and Johnson would like to start seeing the number of nurses increase. J&J has started a program to encourage more teachers of nursing in colleges. This scholarship helps fund research of graduate students or faculty members. The funding for this program should be solid enough not to go anywhere, so you can apply also in the future. For more information, contact:

National League of Nursing
NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
61 Broadway 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10006
212-363-5555
Contact: Cindy Rogers, ext. 289
www.nlnfoundation.org/
crogers@nln.org

7) Johnson and Johnson gives $15,000 for Graduate Nursing Education Studies

This program is also designed for nursing educators, although ones who have yet to complete a graduate program. The funding should be solid enough not to go anywhere, so you can apply also in the future. For more information contact:

National League of Nursing
NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
61 Broadway 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10006
212-363-5555
Contact: Cindy Rogers Ext. 289
www.nlnfoundation.org/
crogers@nln.org

8) $2,000 for Orthopedic Nurses

The National Association of Orthopedic Nurses offers various monetary awards to NAON members for different reasons. Some of the awards are for research in orthopedics; others are for continuing education in orthopedic nursing. You must be an NAON member to apply, however. To apply to any of the scholarships contact:

NAON Foundation 2004-2005 Awards Program
East Holly Avenue, Box 56
Pitman, NJ 08071-0056
856-256-2431
www.orthonurse.org/about/foundation.cfm
naonfnd@ajj.com

9) $1,500 for Critical Care Nurses

American Association of Critical Care Nurses offers a scholarship of $1,500 to promote nursing in the fields of critical care.  To be eligible, students must be completing a baccalaureate or graduate degree program in nursing.  Funds can cover tuition, books, supplies or fees while the student is pursuing a baccalaureate program accredited by the National League for Nursing.  To apply, contact the American Association of Critical Care Nurses information below.  You can also receive a Scholarship guidebook by calling the number below and requesting item #1017, or by faxing the number below. 

American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Educational Advancement Scholarship
AACN
101 Columbia
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4109
1-800-899-2226
Fax: 800-222-6329
www.aacn.org

10) $3,000 for Midwifery Students

The American College of Nurse-Midwives provides scholarships to students in good standing who are enrolled in an accredited midwifery program. To apply to the American College of Nurse-Midwives Scholarship by fax, use the fax number below and request document #9001. Amount awarded can change depending on funding, but usually about $3,000 is awarded to successful candidates.

American College of Nurse-Midwives
818 Connecticut Ave., NW, Ste 900
Washington, DC 20006
202-728-9860
Fax: 202-728-9898
http://www.midwife.org/support.cfm

11) $5,000 for Nurse-Midwives from March of Dimes

The March of Dimes Foundation awards four $5,000 scholarships to nurse-midwives to promote better care of mothers and babies. For more information about the March of Dimes funding, contact your local chapter or go to the website provided below.

March of Dimes
1101 Kermit Dr., 201
Nashville, TN 37317
615-399-3200
www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/685_1368.asp
TN452@marchofdimes.com

12) $3,000 for Nurses in Lung and Respiratory Control

The Eight and Forty Scholarship gives $3,000 to current registered nurses who wish to advance their career for positions in supervision, administration or teaching.  Students are to have prospects of being employed in specific positions in hospitals, clinics, or health departments on completion of their education and the position must have a full-time relationship to lung and respiratory control.   Eligibility is determined by the following: good grades, extracurricular activities, and good letters of recommendation.  Interest in lung and respiratory control is secondary to the former requirements. For more information, contact the address listed below. 

American Legion
Attn: Americanism and Children & Youth Division
PO Box 1055
Indianapolis, IN 46206
317-630-1249
Fax: 317-630-1223
www.legion.org/?section=community&subsection=com_edaid&subsection2=com_scholarships&content=gi_eightfortysch
acy@legion.org

13) $2,000 for Pediatric Nurses

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners
awards the McNeil Scholarships to an RN accepted into a full-time pediatric nurse practitioner program. To qualify, you must be an RN with at least three years previous work experience in pediatrics and be a member of NAPNAP. For more information see the address below:

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners
20 Brace Road, Suite 200
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2633
856-857-9700 
www.napnap.org/
info@napnap.org

14) Money for Occupational Nursing

Five scholarships for academic study are awarded for professionals to continue their studies in environmental and occupational health.

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc.
2920 Brandywine Rd., Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-455-7757
Fax: 770-455-7271
www.aaohn.org/foundation/scholarships/index.cfm
aaohn@aaohn.org

15) Up to $10,000 for Graduate Nursing Education

The applicant must be a registered nurse, must be a member of a national professional nursing association, and enrolled in or applying to a National League for Nursing accredited masters program in nursing or at the doctorate level. They must be either a full-time master's student or full- or part-time doctoral student. The first criteria considered are academic excellence. Usual individual amount given is $2,500. Contact:

Nurses Educational Fund, Inc.
555 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
212-399-1428
Fax: 212-590-2446
www.n-e-f.org
bbnef@aol.com

Money To Obtain A Health Care Skill

Be sure to check into this - You are out of work and need to learn some new skills in order to get employed. The Career One Stop can help you. They have information about Federal job training programs, Workforce Investment Act training, apprenticeships and more. Career One Stops can help you do a career and skills assessment to see where you are and where you need to go. They will even help direct you to money sources to pay for the training you need. For more information, check out www.careeronestop.org

Find More Scholarships and Government Money

Over $30 billion a year is given out in scholarship money and most of it cannot discriminate against the applicant (you) because of age.  It’s against the law.  Also remember that you do not have to be low-income to receive a scholarship or grant to attend college.  The data show that people making over $100,000 a year get more government money for college than people making less than $100,000 a year.  Below in this section you will find a sampling of scholarship programs, but there are literally thousands available and no one source can have it all.  Here is where to start your research to find them all.

1) Federal Government Grants, Loans and Scholarships
They are described in a book called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. This book is available at your local public library or the U.S. Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov. You can also search the contents of this book for free on the web at www.cfda.gov

2) State Government Grants, Loans and Scholarships
There are close to 400 programs worth almost $3 billion dollars in financial aid available through all 50 states. Did you know that there are state money programs which:

• Pay for a singing degree?
• Give you money to study wildlife?
• Give you $2,000 to go to vocational school?
• Pay for your nursing, teaching or law degree?
• Give you $7,000 to study marine sciences?
• Pay for a health care degree if you work in the state after graduation?

Every state has grants and other money available for higher education. Look for the state office of higher education. You can find them by dialing 411 and asking for your state capitol operator or by going to the web at www.govengine.com and clicking on your state.

3) Find All the Non-Government Money Programs
There are dozens of scholarship directories available. Because one directory cannot possibly have everything, it is better to have a collection of scholarship directories, but this can become too expensive. So, you can go to your local library, or you can go into a local large bookstore that has a coffee shop and buy a cup of $3.00 coffee and spend an afternoon looking through all the books. You are only going to get a few scholarships out of any one book. Copy down the info and do your follow-up. This way, for the price of a cup of coffee, you have access to hundreds of dollars worth of directories. Most of these book stores have big comfy chairs to encourage you to spend time there using their books. Such a deal.

4) Free Research to Find More Money
This is an information clearinghouse that has free research either on the web or on the phone on any education topic. For example, you can search for information sources on topics such as scholarships or financial aid for graduate students. What do you have to lose? It’s FREE. Contact: Education Resources Information Center (ERIC); 800-LET-ERIC (538-3742); www.eric.ed.gov

Money To Fix-Up Your Home

Below are some sources to help you make repairs to your home. 

$7,500 in Grants to Help Fix-Up Your Home

Remember that a loan must be paid back, but a grant is free money! The Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers their Section 504 Rural Housing Repair Rehabilitation Program. Loans are available to very low-income rural residents who own and occupy their home in need of repairs. Funds can be used to improve, modernize or improve health and safety conditions. This is a 1% loan of up to $20,000 payable over 20 years. Applicants must be unable to get traditional credit and be below 50% of the area median income. Grants are only available to applicants 62 years old and older. Grants of up to $7,500 are available and the application process is very easy. Contact your state Rural Housing Agency or the Rural Housing Service National Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5037, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250; 202-720-4323; www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs.

1,000 to Get Help with Housing

Over 1,000 local non-profit offices offer free money and help to improve your life in almost any area. Although these agencies do get money from the federal government, they also get money from other sources, and as a result, no two of these offices are exactly alike. But most all of them help in the area of employment, bill paying, child care and self employment. The following is a sample of programs you will find when you contact an office near you. Along with the program, we also identify the local agency providing this program. These programs are specific to these areas. Check with your local office to see what they offer.

Get a $3 grant for every $1 you save
Community Action Partnership http://www.managingmymoney.com/

Free Cars, if you pay repairs and registration
CAP Agency Shakopee, MN http://www.capagency.org/pages/service.htm

Free Crisis Nursery, up to 73 hours of overnight care and 10 days day care
CAP Agency Shakopee, MN http:// www.capagency.org/pages/service.htm

Eviction Prevention
TEAM, Inc Derby, CT http://www.teamcaa.org/housing.htm

$10,000 to start a business
Community Action Program, Inc of Western Indiana http://www.capwi.org/new_page_9.htm

$700 for child care
Community and Family Services, Inc. Portland, IN www.comfam.net/pages/childcare.html

$350 for an air conditioner
City of Des Moines, Iowa
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm

$1,000 to repair your furnace
City of Des Moines, Iowa
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm

To find a community action agency near you go to: http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or contact Community Action Partnership, 1100 17th St NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202-265-7546; Fax: 202-265-8850; info@communityactionpartnership.com; www.communityactionpartnership.com

Reverse Mortgages Give You Cash Now

If you are 62 years old or older and you own your own home, you may want to use a reverse mortgage to get some cash. In the past, the only ways to get cash out of your home was to sell your home or borrow against it. Now, reverse mortgages are available to help seniors tap into the wealth that has built up in their homes. Reverse mortgages don’t require you to move or take on extra debt.

Reverse Mortgages work like traditional mortgages, but in reverse. Instead of making a house payment each month, you receive a payment from your lender. Depending on the type of Reverse Mortgage and the lender, you can take the money in a lump sum, in monthly advances, through a line-of-credit or a combination of the three. Most Reverse Mortgages do not require any repayment of principal, interest or servicing fees, as long as you live in your home. These loans are called rising-debt loans for that reason. The money you receive usually may be used for any reason.

Homeowners must stay current on property taxes, home repairs, and homeowners’ insurance. Loans are typically repaid when you sell your home or upon your death. The loan can be paid off from the proceeds of the sale of the house or your heirs may keep the house if the loan balance can be paid off using other assets. The amount due will be the lesser of your loan balance or the market value of your property.

To qualify for Reverse Mortgages, you must be at least 62 years old and have paid for most of your home mortgage. Income is generally not a factor. The amount you may borrow depends on your age, equity in your home, value of your home and the interest rate.

There are generally three types of Reverse Mortgages:

1. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) – this is a federally funded program administered by HUD. If you choose HECM, you must agree to free mortgage counseling from an independent government-approved “housing agency.�
2. Single-Purpose Reverse Mortgage – usually offered by state or local government agencies for a specific reason.
3. Proprietary Reverse Mortgage – offered by banks, mortgage companies and other private lenders and backed by the companies that develop them.

Because of the costs and complexity of a Reverse Mortgage, other options should be considered before you obtain a loan. Like any loan, there are fees and pros and cons depending on your individual situation. It is important to learn as much as you can about any program before you sign-up. If you want to learn about Reverse Mortgage, contact one of the agencies listed below or check out their website for a wealth of Reverse Mortgage information.

Remember, if you change your mind there is a Federal law to help you. The Federal law provides you a three-day “right of rescission,� option to cancel the contract without penalty within three business days (including Saturdays).

Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; 877-FTC-HELP; www.ftc.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410; 888-466-3487; www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm

The National Center for Home Equity Conversion, 360 N Robert Street, #403, St. Paul, MN 55101; 651-222-6775; www.reverse.org

AARP, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049; 800-424-3410; www.aarp.org/revmort

Fannie Mae, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-2892; 202
-752-7000; www.fanniemae.com/homebuyers/findamortgage/reverse/index.jhtml

$2,500 to Pay Your Insulation Bills
Storm windows, insulation and even weather-stripping can help reduce your heating and cooling bills. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the Weatherization Assistance Program. Many people are eligible for this program from renters to homeowners, from those who live in single-family or multi-family housing to those who live in mobile homes. Preference is given to the elderly and those families with children. You must apply through your state weatherization agency. States allocate dollars to non-profit agencies for purchasing and installing energy-related repairs. For information on eligibility and where to apply in your state contact your state’s office below or the National office at Department of Weatherization, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Stop EE-1, Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585; 202-586-9220; www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/

State Housing Help

The federal government may have many programs, but don’t overlook your state. Every state has some type of Housing Finance Authority, as well as other offices that offer a multitude of programs for renters and homebuyers. The range of options is astounding. Many offer assistance for repair, renovation, or handicapped access improvement to homes.  In addition, don’t forget to contact county and city housing offices to see what may be available in your area.

Below is a list of programs available from state offices that we were able to identify in a recent research project we did on the state of Nebraska. This serves as an example of the kinds of programs that can be available in your state.

1. Up to a $20,000 Loan or a $7,500 Grant for Seniors in Rural Areas
2. Reverse Mortgages for Seniors
3. Tax Exemptions up to $40,000 for Eligible Senior Residents
4. Grants Help Develop Low-Cost Housing Statewide
5. Technical Assistance for Housing & Planning Projects
6. Lease-to-Own a Home of Your Own!
7. Low-Interest Loans for Energy Efficiency
8. Up to $674 in Energy Assistance for Qualified Residents
9. Home Weatherization Saves You Money & It’s FREE!
10. Historical Rehabilitation Tax Credit

See what your state has to offer; contact: Washington State Housing Finance Commission, 1000 Second Ave., Suite 2700, Seattle, WA 98104; 206-464-7139; 800-767-4663; www.wshfc.org

Your Hard Work Will Pay Off

Wow.  You are probably tired just from reading all this, and you haven’t even started any of the real work yet.  That’s the problem with life nowadays.  It’s a lot bigger and complicated than it used to be.  When I grew up in the 50s there used to be just one place to turn to for help, and that one person seemed to know it all.  Now times have changed.  No one person knows everything anymore.  Life’s become so complex.  Even I, who have been studying money programs for over 25 years, and am likely to be the best one in the country at it, still don’t feel like I know it all.

You can’t trust a “no� answer anymore. No, just means that they don’t know anything.  It seems that success in this world goes to those who don’t take no for an answer and find a way to solve the problem no matter what the experts say.  The experts are wrong too many times to trust them completely.

It’s fun to continue to learn new sources of help and new skills for finding money. I always believe that the sources you identify this time and don’t use will be of value to you some time in the future, but you just don’t know it yet.

I hope our sources give you some help. Hang in there, it’s a big world and there are lots of sources waiting to help you, but they won’t come looking for you, you have to go looking for them.

Matthew Lesko
Entrepreneur and Best Selling Author
Information USA, Inc
www.lesko.com