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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9/23/2021 0 Comments Elderly care providers in Brookline MA: tips on how to care for loved ones with dementiaElderly care providers are here to help care loved ones with dementia Elderly care providers in the Brookline and Boston MA area know that it can be a stressful, long, and intensely emotional journey when caring for a loved one with any form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. But you are not alone in this journey. There are more than 16 million people who are taking care of a loved one with dementia around the country, and millions more in other places around the world. Since there is no cure for dementia, it can make the biggest difference to the quality of life for your loved one by being cared for and supported by a family member. It can be a complicated task to take care of an aging parent, especially when dementia care is involved. Your loved one may resist your care and behavioral and cognitive changes from dementia can be unpredictable. The most important thing that you first need to understand as the caregiver of a senior with dementia is the disease itself. Alzheimer’s disease is the one form of dementia that has the most pronounced stages. It is a progressive condition, this means that, as time goes on, the severity of symptoms will increase. Here are some important details to consider when taking the role as a caregiver for a loved one with dementia: Establish a positive mood for interacting with your loved one You can communicate your thoughts and feelings more strongly than your words will through your body language and attitude. You can establish a positive mood by talking to your loved ones respectfully and pleasantly. You can use your tone of voice, facial expressions, and physical touch to help to convey your message to them and show your feelings of love and affection. Reduce challenges and frustrations
Make the home safer You may need to make some changes to your loved one’s home in order to reduce fall risk when they are transitioning from the mild to the moderate stage of dementia. You can provide them with a comfortable home, with an added layer of safety, by using a lot of patience and a little resourcefulness. You can start by assessing their home and seeing any possible hazards, prevent any catastrophes around the home, such as in the kitchen, and keeping emergency numbers close by. Don’t forget to take care of yourself You must take time to take care of yourself when taking care of a loved one with dementia. You will not be able to help your loved one if you become too frustrated and tired. If you find yourself needing a break you can try asking for help from friends, family, and community organizations. You can also consider looking for caregiver support groups to give you some good ideas about how to make things easier for yourself. Elderly care providers in Brookline MA: rewards of in-home care Top elderly care providers know that caring for your loved one in their home can take a lot of effort, however, it can also bring some valuable benefits. This form of care will mean that your loved ones can stay in the community and home that they have built for themselves. This will also create a sense of stability and comfort. Staying in their home will give your loved one a greater sense of being independent. But the proper measure must be put into place to reap these benefits and make sure that they stay safe and, more importantly, supported through this tough time. 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 company, with service areas in Boston Metro, Metro West, Brookline, Newton, Wellesley, and Needham. 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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