How can a home caregiver help to protect their loved ones from scams? An expert home caregiver may have seen elder abuse in the form of financial fraud. Financially abusing an elder is what happens when someone improperly or illegally uses money or other property that belongs to a vulnerable senior. There are now some states across the country that currently have laws in place that make elder financial abuse a crime; they also provide help to seniors and punish scammers. You can become familiar with the most common scams and learn what you can do to help protect yourself and your loved one if you become suspicious of any foul play. Why are seniors’ common targets of scams? Many of the targets of scams are mainly considered to be in the naïve segment of the community. Unfortunately, seniors are the most targeted for scams. These scammers target seniors since they may be willing to listen, lonely, and are more trusting than younger people. Many of the schemes against seniors are done door-to-door, over the phone, and through advertisements. Seniors are considered prime targets to scams attributed to sweepstakes, credit cards, contests, health products, charities, home improvements, magazines, investments, equity skimming, insurance, and wire transfers or banking. Common financial scams that take advantage of seniors Here are the common scams to help your loved one to watch out for: Grandparent scam Scammers will call a senior pretending to be one of their grandchildren and ask a version of the question, "Do you know who this is?" When your loved one guesses a name, the scammer will then ask your loved one to send them some money through MoneyGram or Western Union to help pay for some emergency expense, such as overdue rent, a hospital bill, or car repairs. The scammer will also ask your loved one not to say anything to the grandchild's parents. Lottery and sweepstakes scam Many people may be familiar with this simple scam as it takes advantage of the notion that "nothing in this world is free." In this case, a scammer will let your loved one know that they have won sweepstakes or lottery of some sort, and they will need to make a payment to unlock the prize. Many times, your loved one may be sent a check to deposit in their bank account. While the funds may immediately appear in their bank account, it can take a few days for the fake check to be rejected. During these few days, the scammer will collect the money for the so-called taxes and fees on the prize, which they keep while your loved one has the "prize money" removed from their bank account as soon as the prize check bounces. Health insurance and Medicare scam This involves the scammer posing as a Medicare representative and asking your loved one for their personal information to receive discounted or free supplies or equipment through the mail. Your loved one will then submit a claim to their insurer for a product that was never delivered or unnecessary. Steps to take if you suspect a financial senior scam As a home caregiver, you should never be embarrassed or afraid to talk about a loved one being scammed with someone that you can trust. You're not alone, there are people who can help you, and it will only become worse by doing nothing. Keep resources and phone numbers handy, including your loved one's bank, local police, and adult protective services. Top home caregiver in Brookline and Boston MA TeamCarer provides team and technology-based care for in-home seniors who need daily living assistance such as bathing, grooming, dressing, personal hygiene, medication reminders, and other care needs. We are a local home health aid services company, with service areas in Boston, Brookline, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Dedham, Westwood, Norwood, Medfield, Walpole, Canton, and Sharon. Contact us today to get started.
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How do in-home caregivers detect malnutrition in seniors? In-home caregivers, in the Brookline and Boston MA areas, are trained to recognize malnutrition, which is when a person doesn’t have the required amount of nutrients to function. It typically involves experiencing an imbalance of calories, protein, and other vitamins that you need throughout each day. Malnutrition can be harmful at any age, but it can impact seniors especially hard. When a senior is malnourished, it leaves them vulnerable to slower recovery times, increased risk of falling, possible hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations, and possible death. Various factors can cause malnutrition in seniors, including lack of ability to chew and swallow, loss of appetite, and increased use of medications. Other risk factors include dementia, depression, lack of access to optimally nutritious food, whether because of lack of ability to make or shop for food or food insecurity, and chronic diseases. How to monitor and prevent malnutrition Suppose you are a caregiver to a senior loved one. In that case, you can take the necessary steps to help monitor nutritional health, watch for weight loss, and determine any risk factors of malnutrition. It would be best if you considered the following: Monitor weight: Help to check your loved one’s weight at home and keep a weekly record. Monitor for any changes to how clothes are fitting as this can be an indication of weight loss. Observe habits: Spend mealtimes together to observe their eating habits at home. Take a note of the kinds of foods that are being eaten and how much they’re eating. Keep track of medications: Keep a record of all your loved one’s medications, the reason they are taking them, treatment schedules, dosages, and any possible side effects. Help with meal plans: Help to plan some healthy meals or prepare some meals ahead of time. Help them prepare a shopping list and go shopping together. Here are resources for healthy eating. Use local services: Contact some local services that provide in-home visits from dietitians or nurses, at-home meal deliveries, access to a food pantry, or other nutrition programs. Make meals a social event: Drop by your loved one’s home during mealtime or invite them to your house for a meal occasionally. Go out to eat at a restaurant that provides senior discounts. Encourage them to participate in social programs that have members within the same community eat together. Encourage physical activity: Even daily, light exercise can help to stimulate your loved one’s appetite and strengthen their muscles and bones. In-home caregivers in Brookline and Boston MA: things to consider In-home caregivers can help seniors to manage their nutrition and health as they age, which can be a difficult task. If you are the sole care provider to a loved one, speak with their doctor and ask for help when needed. Their doctor can discuss their risk of malnutrition with you. TeamCarer provides team and technology-based care for in-home seniors who need daily living assistance such as bathing, grooming, dressing, personal hygiene, medication reminders, and other care needs. We are a local home health aid services company, with service areas in Boston, Brookline, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Dedham, Westwood, Norwood, Medfield, Walpole, Canton, and Sharon. Contact us today to get started. |
AuthorTeamcarer offers technology-enabled team-based care for in-home seniors who need daily living assistance such as bathing, grooming, dressing, personal hygiene, medication reminders, and other care needs. Archives
November 2021
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