PEABODY – State Representative Joyce Spiliotis of Peabody joined Attorney General Martha Coakley and new Secretary of Elder Affairs Michael Festa Thursday morning for a presentation on Beacon Hill about the future of elder services in Massachusetts.Coakley and Festa laid out their priorities surrounding elder abuse prevention and prosecution, and Spiliotis laid out hers: Money Management.”It’s a big part of protective services,” said Spiliotis, who’s been active in the statewide program since joining the legislature in 2003.Money Management is a program funded by the state that provides financial assistance to the elderly and disabled in need. It’s entirely run by volunteers under the supervision of AARP and North Shore Elderly Services.”It’s a really good program because some elderly just need a little bit of help,” said Spiliotis. “It costs a lot less to do (that) than putting someone in a nursing home.”Spiliotis said that the average yearly cost to keep someone in a nursing home is $70,000. By providing some financial guidance, such as helping to pay utility bills, making sure the rent check gets in the mail on time, or even planning their budget, elders are able to stay in the comfort of their own homes and maintain a sense of independence. And it saves the state money.”You never realize how it’s going to touch your own life,” said Spiliotis. “It happened in my life with my mother, who’s 83. I found out she hadn’t been paying her bills for months?It’s something people don’t want to talk about.”Spiliotis said that often times, elders are embarrassed of their financial situation, which is why a program like Money Management is necessary. In the Peabody area alone, Spiliotis said there are 38-40 individuals using the program.”And, we have a waiting list,” said Spiliotis. “I’m thinking that in the future, we’ll see additional funding and get those people off the waiting list and be able to service a lot more people.”Spiliotis said that two years ago, a request for $1.3 million was denied. However, this year, she feels quite confident that they’ll see an increase.”When the Secretary of Elder Affairs is behind it and supporting it, it’s more likely to happen. He knows and understands how important this is.”Spiliotis said that she and her staff are grateful for the volunteers who have offered to spend their time working one on one with the elders.For more information on how to become a volunteer or receive assistance, call Spiliotis’ Boston office at 617-722-2430 or Elder Affairs at 617-727-7750.