Seniors are the targets of scammers who use kindness for their personal gain. There are many scams in action today, and your aging loved one is at risk for being targeted by a nefarious telemarketer, door-to-door salesperson, or even an email campaign. While you might not be able to stop every scammer from contacting your loved one, you can use the following strategies to make sure he or she prevents the scams from being successful.
Know the Risk Factors
Scammers tend to target people who fall within specific demographics. For instance, scammers who attempt to act as representatives of charities or medical organizations collecting money often target people over the age of 65.
Seniors are also at risk if they live alone, since they may not have someone else to ask about a potential scam, and those who have dementia may not be able to identify a sales pitch as a scam. Being aware of the risk factors gives you a starting point for addressing each one so your loved one is less attractive to scammers.
Apart from being susceptible to scams, seniors can face a variety of other challenges as they age. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of senior home care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
Use Positive Language
If your loved one has been scammed before, it’s important to avoid placing blame on his or her behavior. Making your loved one feel ashamed for the mistake may cause him or her to avoid coming to you with other concerns in the future.
Instead of blaming your loved one, use positive language to discuss a few of the ways to detect a scam. For instance, your loved one should never have to pay money to receive lottery winnings, and banks typically don’t request personal information over the phone, since they already know your loved one’s account number.
Stay on Top of the Latest News Regarding Scams
New scams are constantly being developed, and knowing which ones are going around can help you talk to your loved one about how to avoid them. Read or watch the local and national news and talk to other caregivers to find out the latest scams in your community.
You can also watch for potential scams around holidays and other events that happen at the same time each year. For instance, your loved one is more likely to be approached by scammers posing as IRS agents during tax season, whereas scams based on charitable causes tend to increase around the holidays.
From avoiding scams to performing basic housekeeping chores, older adults may need help with an array of tasks. Some seniors need occasional assistance at home, and oftentimes the family members who take care of them need time away to run errands, take a nap, go to work, or take a vacation. Las Vegas respite care experts from Assisting Hands Home Care are available on an as-needed basis, giving your family peace of mind that your loved one will remain safe and comfortable while you relax or focus on other important responsibilities.
Develop Ground Rules
Even the most intelligent and cautious senior can fall for a scam. However, you can stop this from happening by establishing a few ground rules for how your loved one manages his or her finances and household responsibilities. For example, you can suggest that your loved one never open the door to a stranger, since it could be a scammer posing as a salesperson. Your loved one should also be warned to abstain from giving out personal information over the phone.
Keep a Trusted Person Around
Loneliness can cause a senior to be willing to talk to anyone, even a potential scammer. A senior who is isolated may also lose large sums of money before anyone notices. For this reason, your loved one will benefit from having a companion who can watch out for potential scams. By keeping an eye out for warning signs of scams, a trusted companion can serve as a safeguard for your loved one’s financial security.
Protection from scams isn’t the only thing older adults need to enjoy a high quality of life. Living alone at home in the golden years can present a few unique challenges. Trust professionals home care Las Vegas to help your senior loved one maintain a higher quality of life while he or she manages an illness and performs the daily tasks of living. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Assisting Hands Home Care team at 702-919-0231 today.
