Massachusetts seniors need our help.

In the second costliest state in the U.S., nursing and rest homes residents are forced to survive on $72.80 a month. That’s often not enough to afford toiletries, clothing, and over-the-counter medications — never-mind birthday gifts for grandchildren. That’s why seniors receive $200 in Alaska, $163 in Nevada, $160 in Florida, and so forth.

This is the story of our elderly neighbors who live on $72.80 in one of the richest states, in the richest country in the world.