How to Prevent Senior Fraud

We would never want to think about someone taking advantage of our elderly parents, but unfortunately, the growing incidence of senior fraud is putting many older adults in harm’s way, threatening to strip them of their assets, their independence, and their trust.

A survey by the North American Securities Administrators Association shows senior investment fraud accounts for nearly 50 percent of all complaints received by state securities regulators. That number is up from the 2005 survey, when 28 percent of fraud reports involved the elderly.

The financial industry is littered schemes that result in broken dreams for seniors. Stories of elderly seniors losing their life savings are far too abundant. Seniors are being targeted through the internet, mail, phone, in-home visits, and free “financial seminars” specifically tailored to large groups of seniors.

There are many reasons the elderly fall victim to fraud, including being too trusting and too good mannered to be rude, wanting a better rate of return on their money, believing the salesperson is nice, friendly, and caring, and being impressed with fancy credentials and titles.

Financial predators use tactics to instill fear in seniors – making them think they will run out of money and become a burden to their families. They inspire distrust in seniors of family members concerning their finances to keep seniors from disclosing the fraud. And they prey upon the loneliness, isolation, and availability of some retired or widowed seniors.

Whatever the enticing investment, scammers use specific tactics to hook seniors. Be cautious of the phrases, “your profit is guaranteed,” “it’s an amazingly high rate of return,” “there’s no risk,” “you can get in on the ground floor,” “you would be a fool to pass this by,” “this offer is only available today,” “it’s a secret investment tip just for you,” “I’ll get you the paperwork later,” and “just make your check out to me.”

How do you know if a potential investment is legitimate? Contact the state securities regulator to see if the salesperson is licensed in the state to sell the security and if the security is licensed for sale in the state. Most investments must be registered with the state securities regulator or with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the potential investment is not properly registered, do not invest.

Check the person and check the history of this person and/or his or her firm.

One way caregivers can help protect their elderly loved ones from investment fraud is to have open, two-way communication when it comes to finances. Make sure the loved one is comfortable talking about money honestly and openly without fear of reprisal.

If possible, have them turn to you, or a trusted financial advisor or lawyer, before making any investment. Also, if an investor is real, he or she will have no problem speaking to the client’s family member before taking the money.

Give Always Best Care Senior Services a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

Have a Senior You Want to Nominate to Receive a Special Meal?

We all know at least one senior who has done something amazing, sweet, or awesome. We also know at least one senior who is lonely, sick, or just in need of a friend.

All of these seniors – and many others – are perfect examples of people who could be nominated to receive a special, home-cooked meal when Always Best Care Senior Services and October Kitchen team up.

Kristine Lajeunesse of Always Best Care will be cooking the dishes with Chef Paul Finney of October Kitchen and then will surprise the seniors with the meals – all as part of the next Make a Senior Smile Campaign.

Maybe your grandfather is still getting out and being active – despite his advanced age. Maybe you know the nursing home “greeter” – the person who says hello to everyone as they walk down the halls. Do you know a senor that would give someone they just met the shirt off their back?

Nominate him or her!

Is your relative living alone because she is widowed or her husband is in a nursing home? Maybe your neighbor doesn’t have any family around to take care of him. How about someone from your church who is battling an illness?

Nominate him or her!

These are just a few examples of people you might nominate, but are by no means the only ones.

If you have a senior you want to nominate to receive a meal, go to the Always Best Care Facebook page or the Always Best Care blog and leave the name of the senior and why they deserve this special meal.

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

When Do You Become a Senior Citizen?

Some would argue that age is just as much a state of mind as it is a state of being.

And with Baby Boomers now turning 65, the question of when a person becomes a senior citizen has become a topic of conversation.

Is there a certain age? Or is it when you FEEL like a senior citizen?

In 2010, about half of 64-year-olds responding to a Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey said the term “senior citizen” does not apply to them because they don’t “feel” like a senior. They described themselves as still being active and young at heart.

In the same survey, 96 percent of 50-year-olds, the youngest of the Baby Boomers, also rejected the term.

The 64-year-olds who embraced the term did so primarily for economic reasons, because they are now eligible for senior discounts.

When asked to pinpoint when “old age” begins, both the oldest and youngest Boomers selected ages well beyond them. The youngest Boomers said a person becomes old at age 78, while the oldest boomers said old age begins at 80.

The term “senior citizen” was first coined during a 1938 political campaign as a euphemism for “old person,” and now enjoys widespread usage in the common vernacular, legislation, and business. Some dictionaries define “senior citizen” as a person over the age of 65. 

In legislation, the term applies to the age at which pensions, social security, or medical benefits for the elderly become available. In this country, traditionally people have been eligible to retire with full Social Security benefits at age 65. Additionally, one can retire early at age 62 and receive a portion of – but not full – retirement benefits. Because of increases in average life expectancy and stresses on the federal budget, however, Congress has passed legislation to gradually increase the full retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2027. 

Many federally and state-funded programs also qualify individuals based on age. For example, Area Agencies on Aging provides home-delivered meals and congregate meals to senior centers and apartment communities. To participate, an individual must be at least 60 years of age or the spouse of someone 60 years of age.

In business applications, the term “senior” often is applied to special discounts and customer loyalty programs which vary by age and store.

Receiving an AARP card in the mail is a rite of passage for those turning 50. If one’s spouse is already a member, then one can receive senior discounts regardless of age.

All this being said, the boundary line between middle age and old age in our society cannot be defined exactly because governments and organizations don’t apply standard definitions or meanings. 

People may consider themselves seniors because of changes in activities or social roles – when they become grandparents or when their health declines. Some consider themselves seniors when they are invited to join AARP, qualify for Medicare, or officially retire from the workplace.

When do you think you become a senior?


Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

Always Best Care Senior Services Making Seniors Smile

You remember your grandmother feeding you delicious, home-cooked meals when you were a kid.

Now is your chance to return the favor.

Always Best Care Senior Services will be teaming up with October Kitchen of Manchester as part of the Make a Senior Smile campaign to deliver special home-cooked meals to local seniors.

Kristine Lajeunesse of Always Best Care will be cooking the dishes with Chef Paul Finney of October Kitchen and then will surprise the seniors with the meals.

October Kitchen was founded in 2000 by Finney as an opportunity to bring both food and knowledge to the table. Today, October Kitchen provides families with delicious and healthy homestyle meals and bakery items.

Do you know a senior who is deserving of a special meal? Maybe she is your grandmother who always took care of you when you were little. Or maybe he is your elderly neighbor who doesn’t have any family to take care of him.

Whatever the reason, Always Best Care and October Kitchen are asking for your nominations.

If you have a senior you would like to nominate, go to the Always Best Care Facebook page or the Always Best Care blog and leave the name of the senior and why they deserve this special meal.


Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

97-Year-Old Evicted From Retirement Home

It's a story that may enrage you.

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself without a home?

It’s something none of us want to think about.

But it’s a situation that a 97-year-old California man found himself in recently.

Jim Farrell was evicted from his home at Redwood Retirement in Napa for playing too much music.

Seriously?

Seriously.

Farrell was quoted in the local newspapers as saying, “Management would stop me and say these words: ‘Go back to your room!’ Like a kid.”

When he was put out on the street, Farrell spent three nights at a homeless shelter before an anonymous donor helped him move into Piner’s Nursing Home in Napa.

Friends are currently raising money to ensure that Farrell can stay at his new home.

Oh, and Redwood Retirement has not returned calls to the local papers.

What do you think of this situation? How do you think it could have been handled differently?

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

What is Going on With the VA?

We do our best at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut to act as mediators and avoid controversy.

But sometimes, there's a conversation that just has to be had.

As the headlines explode about billions of dollars being spent on immigrants coming over the border... it seems that the news of the Veteran Affairs scandal has quickly become buried.  

We're talking about the men and women - and their families - that have sacrificed so much for our country... who have somehow seemingly been forgotten.

So what's the situation all about?

You’ve probably heard that there’s a problem with the Veterans Affairs system, but what’s it all about?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs handles three major categories for America’s veterans: medical care, benefits, and burials/memorials.
Let’s take a look at the medical care side of things.

Once a veteran is discharged from the armed services, he or she must enroll in the VA system by calling a toll-free number, going to a clinic, or applying online. Veterans must have their discharge forms — known as a DD214 — to start the process.

Veterans go through a means test each year — a review of financial information to determine the priority group for enrollment and whether that person is able to make a co-pay. 

New patients are supposed to see a doctor within 14 days after their paperwork is accepted, and existing patients are supposed to see a doctor between 14 and 30 days after requesting an appointment.

That does not seem to be happening in many places and is at the crux of the scandal.

An interim independent report by the VA’s inspector general found that officials falsified records at a medical center in Phoenix, hiding the amount of time that veterans had to wait for medical appointments. According to the report, 1,700 veterans were kept on waiting lists and veterans waited an average of 115 days for an initial primary care appointment.

There have been claims of false record-keeping and long waiting lists for care at VA facilities across the country; the report called inappropriate scheduling “systemic” within the system. In some places, veterans have died while waiting for care, though there is no known link between the deaths and delays.

Other allegations include an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a VA hospital and a mismanaged gastroenterology program that delayed treatment to veterans.

So many stories are just coming to light. Like the woman whose husband died while waiting for an appointment with the VA hospital. Two years later... she received a letter saying they could get him in for an appointment. In the letter, they also let her know that timeliness is important to them... and that she needed to respond ASAP. The even more cruel irony? Military funeral expenses weren't covered... because he had never been seen by the VA hospital.

There IS support out there for our veterans. If you couldn't tell... we're extremely passionate about helping and being an advocate for those who served.

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

The Veteran, the Homeless Man, and the Cracker Barrel Incident

It's the kind of story that gets you all shades of angry... especially during a month where we celebrate the men and the women that serve our country.

Perhaps you've heard the story.  

Recently, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran was fired from his job at Cracker Barrel for giving a needy person a corn muffin – and not making him pay for it.

Joe Koblenzer was fired from the Florida restaurant after Cracker Barrel said he had committed his fifth violation of company policy, which includes not giving away food and not consuming food without paying for it.

What happened was that a man – who looked like he may be homeless – approached Koblenzer, asking him for mayo and tartar sauce so that he could cook fish. Koblenzer gave him the condiments – and threw in the corn muffin.

Koblenzer says that he did break the rules, and understands why he was fired, but that it was worth it and he would do it again. He also said that if Cracker Barrel had asked him to pay for the muffin, he would have.

After the story got out, Cracker Barrel released this response: “Mr. Koblenzer has worked as a host at Cracker Barrel’s Sarasota store since April 2011. During the time he was employed, he violated the Company’s policies regarding consuming food without paying or giving away free food, on five separate occasions. Mr. Koblenzer received multiple counselings and written warnings reminding him about the company’s policies and the consequences associated with violating them. On the fifth occasion, again per Company policy, Mr. Koblenzer was terminated. Cracker Barrel is grateful for and honors Mr. Koblenzer’s service to our country as we honor all service men and women and their families.”

Koblenzer, who worked at Cracker Barrel to supplement his monthly Social Security benefits, is looking for a new job, but isn’t sure what he will do next.

If you were in his shoes, what would you have done? Do you agree with how Cracker Barrel handled the incident?