Five million cases of elder fraud occur in the United States each year, resulting in $27.4 billion in losses, according to an article published by U.S. News & World Report. “Elder fraud is an act targeting older adults in which attempts are made to deceive with promises of goods, services, or financial benefits that do not exist, were never intended to be provided, or were misrepresented,” according to the StopFraud.gov Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The majority of victims do not report elder fraud due to embarrassment.
The National Council on Aging reports the following as the top 10 financial scam that target seniors:
- Medicare/health insurance scams.
- Counterfeit prescription drugs.
- Funeral and cemetery scams.
- Fraudulent anti-aging products.
- Telemarketing/phone scams.
- Internet fraud.
- Investment schemes.
- Homeowner/reverse mortgage scams.
- Sweepstakes and lottery scams.
- The grandparent scam.
In order to protect your senior parent from fraud, follow these three tips provided by Consumer Reports:
- Regularly call or visit your aging loved one. Regular calls and visits to your senior parent will help you stay connected and identify any changes in your senior’s relationships, environment, and behaviors. If your aging parent suddenly has a new friend, becomes socially isolated, or is hesitant to communicate, it could indicate that your senior parent’s behaviors or decisions are being influenced.
- Help your senior parent block solicitations. Commercial mail solicitations can be reduced by contacting the Direct Marketing Association’s mail preference service. Reduce the amount of robocalls your senior parent may receive by contacting your parent’s phone service and inquiring about their anti-robocall service, using a third-party call-blocking service or device, or using a call-screening tool.
- Arrange for financial safeguards. If you’re concerned about your senior parent’s financial decisions, set up a small account – separate from larger accounts – with a debit card and spending limit. This will help you and your parent protect their finances. You can also work with your senior parent’s financial institution and arrange to receive account statements and alerts to help monitor funds and potential fraud activity.
Does your senior parent live alone, or visit the doctor’s office, bank, or other locations on their own? Your aging parent may be at risk for fraud or identity theft. Help your senior parent stay safe and independent in their own home by working with SYNERGY HomeCare Corona, Riverside, or Anaheim Hills.
At SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, and Anaheim Hills, we know how hard it is to entrust someone else with the health, safety, and happiness of your senior parent. You may wonder, “Can I trust this person in my senior parent’s home? Will my senior parent feel comfortable with their caregiver?”
To protect you and your family, SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, and Anaheim Hills takes on the responsibility of employing and managing your in-home caregiver. SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, and Anaheim Hills in-home caregivers are dependable and properly screened. Each SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, and Anaheim Hills caregiver is:
- A W-2 employee
- Bonded and insured
- Experienced and dependable
- Screened through a national criminal background check
- Trained, receiving quality assurance and performance evaluations
Call SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, or Anaheim Hills today to ensure that your senior parent leads a safe and independent life.
About SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills
SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills is the name you can trust in Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange and Placentia for personal home care. SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills is part of a national franchise of non-medical home care offices dedicated to providing exceptional and affordable service to anyone of any age. SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, to those in need – including seniors, expectant moms, those suffering from sports injuries and debilitating illnesses, and more. SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona & Riverside can be found online at http://www.synergyhomecare.com/agencies/ca/anaheim-hills/ca25 . The location also hosts active social media pages on Facebook and Twitter. Ken and Anna can be reached at 714- 706-1613 and [email protected] .
