VISITING ANGELS LAKES REGION, NH 603-366-1993
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Elderly Home Care Discusses How to Detect & Prevent Fraud Against Seniors

Scammers are always looking for new ways to steal money, and unfortunately seniors are some of the most susceptible to their theft. According to The National Center on Elder Abuse, 90 percent of the perpetrators are family members or people the elderly victims know well, such as friends or family. Between a lack of financial awareness and general memory issues, there are plenty of ways that seemingly good caregivers can exploit seniors and steal whatever they can from them. Here are some of the ways that experts say you can help detect, prevent, and ultimately avoid fraud against seniors.

Pay attention to those closest to the senior

Often times after gaining their trust, family members or other people close to a senior citizen will start to exploit them. Be on the lookout for changes in their behavior, like flashy new jewelry or if they suddenly quit their job. While most family members are doing everything they can to help the seniors in their life, it’s important to keep an eye out for people who might just be in it for the money. Elderly home care providers recommend checking in with your loved one frequently to make sure those closest to them aren’t exploiting them.

Make sure you trust anyone that is working on the house

Unsolicited home repair work is one of the most popular ways that scammers target the elderly. Oftentimes, scammers will scour neighborhoods and knock of the doors of senior citizens offering to repair things that don’t need to be fixed. Elderly home care experts encourage family members and loved ones to explain to the elderly people in their life that they should consult with someone else before agreeing to any home repair or yard work. It is especially important that they don’t pay anyone up front for services. Catch the problem before it even starts by warning seniors that this scam is common.

Keep track of all paperwork

Many scams that senior citizens are targeted by involve bank records, insurance claims and wills. Elderly home care experts suggest keeping a close eye on anything that an elderly person is signing and to offer to help them take care of their documents. If any suspicious bank activity starts happening, or if they request to make changes to a longstanding will, talk to them and figure out why these changes are happening. They might want to make changes on their own, but sometimes they are being pressured by someone who doesn’t want the best for them.

Experts agree: The best way to help senior citizens avoid fraud and abuse is to pay as close attention to their affairs as possible. This doesn’t mean you need to invade their privacy, but you should be able and willing to help them where they need it. Talk to them about some of the common scams that they might be targeted by, and let them know that you are there to help them when they need it.

Serving the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and surrounding towns

Visiting Angels LAKES REGION, NH
401 Gilford Ave #208
Gilford, NH 03249
Phone: 603-366-1993

Serving the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and surrounding towns

Visiting Angels LAKES REGION, NH
401 Gilford Ave #208
Gilford, NH 03249
Phone: 603-366-1993