Photoshop Elements 12 on Mac OS 10.16.0 cannot SAVE anything

I saw the posts about the new MAC OS update causing crashes, my situation is different.

I have photoselements 12 - and it WORKS it opens, and i can edit - but i cannot SAVE anything. when i go to save it shuts down the application and saves a TINY file (286 bytes) that cannot be opened.

I tried to follow the work around and the update instructions but I cannot find the files and update under Help does nothing (not even a window saying i cannot update).  Am i dead in the water?