 | Carla Shepherd owns the Right at Home franchise in Wichita. Right At HOme is a licensed Home Health Agency providing In-Home Care for individuals needing assistance to remain in their home. Carla is a former manager with Via Christi Health Services with over 20 years of health care experience. Also a Member of the National Privacy Duty Association. You can visit Carla at Right at Home, located at 7438 W. 21st St, Suite 123 in West Wichita. Call (316) 721- 6001, e-mail cjshep@ rah.kscoxmail.com or visit the website at www.rightathome.net/wichita |
Senior Living
2005-09-01 11:27:00
Protect the elderly
QUESTION: How can I protect my elderly parents from scams without invading their privacy?
ANSWER: Scam artists often target senior citizens for their trusting nature and honesty. Whether through phone calls or direct mail pieces, senior citizens are one of the most sought-after groups by thieves.The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that senior citizens are often the targets of such scams because they have financial nest eggs; they own their homes and they have excellent credit ratings. Scam artists often focus their efforts on individuals who are in a position to make expensive purchases, the FBI reports.The best advice is the same advice you have heard for years, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." By remaining aware of who is contacting senior citizens, family members can reduce the risk of financial fraud. You have to know who is working with your family member or who is involved in his or her life on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. When you talk with your loved one, listen for any suspicious conversations they have had with unknown parties over the telephone. Diligence is one of the ways fraud is often caught. Review bank statements and other financial documents that arrive in the mail. Speak with your family member and find out who they're talking to. Discuss the issues of identity theft and fraud. Remind them not to provide Social Security numbers or bank account information to strangers over the phone, strangers who come to the door or to Web sites on the Internet.Suspicious activity should be immediately reported to police, bank officials or other authorities. Obtain as much information as you can from your loved one. Senior Citizens may not want to report the incident because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. If it happened to your family member, it most certainly has happened to someone else. The only way to combat this type of crime is to report it.
