For 45 years, Dorothy Rogers, 82, has lived in the same single-story home that she and her husband, John, and son, Thomas, built together in Hampton, NH.

"I would hold one end of a board while John nailed it in place," Ms. Rogers fondly remembers. "We started building it in November (1955). It was so cold the glue, from the glue gun I was using, would often freeze before it had a chance to stick."

She added: "To save money, my family ate mostly hot dogs and hamburgers while we were building the home. By the time we moved in the following spring I was sick to death of hot dogs."

Before moving to Hampton in 1955, the couple lived near Boston, where Dorothy worked for Webster Thomas, a wholesale grocer, and John for Boston Edison, a power company. "When we moved to Hampton I became a housewife but John kept his job at Boston Edison. He commuted down to Boston every day."

John and Dorothy were living a normal, happy life when, in August 1976, he suddenly passed away a mere 20 days before retiring. "I lost John, his insurance, and most of his pension. I received a little of his pension but it lasted only about one year," Ms. Rogers said.

To make ends meet, she lived off her Social Security. Initially, the monthly Social Security check she received was enough to live on. But over time, as inflation increased, the $743 she received was barely enough to cover her daily living expenses.

"I had a horrendous time paying for things," Ms. Rogers said. "Every time I went to the grocery store, I'd have to choose between prescription drugs or food. In the end, what I was getting from Social Security was going almost entirely to medicine."

Two years ago, Fred Rice, a childhood friend of Ms. Rogers' son, Thomas, told her about the reverse mortgage. "Fred described the reverse mortgage to me and, after listening to him, it sounded like a good thing," she noted. "He told me that I'd be living off my home."

However, a year went by and Ms. Rogers still hadn't inquired about getting a loan. "My situation didn't improve," she said. "I was afraid when the postman would arrive every day because I didn't want him bringing me more bills that I knew I probably couldn't pay," she said.

One day her anxiety was more than she could bear. "I got three bills and I had to decide which one I could let slide because I couldn't pay all three," Ms. Rogers said. "I said to myself, I can't do this anymore."

This time, Ms. Rogers called Fred back and inquired where she could go to get a reverse mortgage. Ms. Rogers closed on a reverse mortgage on November 20, 2000, and is currently receiving $634 a month in extra income - an increase of 85% over her previous income.

Needless to say, Ms. Rogers life has completely changed for the better. She has no problem paying for prescription drugs, food, or bills.

"I thank God every day that I got a reverse mortgage. I can go see a movie with the girls now, or get a sandwich. The first thing I did after getting the loan was go to the store and buy a steak," she said.