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The AARP Fraud Watch Network has been taking complaints from consumers who are buying sought after items online. They are told that the merchant does not take credit cards and that the only way they can pay for the item is through the app Zelle. The problem is that, unlike credit card transactions which can be disputed, once you send money via Zelle or some other peer-to-peer payment app, the money is gone for good.
AARP Bulletin reports that an increasingly common elder abuse scam is creating fear in seniors about the economy and the future of the stock market, and convincing them to buy a “100% safe” investment in precious metals. The sellers then sneak in hefty fees and then mark up the coins as much as 300%, with the sales pitch being that they are “collectible” and thus worth more. “These scams prey on the concerns that senior citizens may have relating to the economy, their retirement and their financial well-being,” according to AARP Bulletin.
The www.AARP.org web site has rolled out enhanced benefits. In addition to the discounts they have always offered on travel, goods and services, members now have on-demand access to movies, lectures, audio interviews, exercise classes and other events in their Virtual Community Center. To gain access, go to www.aarp.org/moa
More than a million plan participants who were in danger of having their pension payments slashed were bailed out in a recent stimulus package. It gave $86 billion to shore up employee pension plans covering retirees at a myriad of companies. AARP fought hard for the measure, says David Certner, AARP’s legislative policy director.
A bill which is working its way through both houses of Congress would give a much-needed financial break to 48 million family caregivers in America who struggle every day as they care for a loved one. I know the feeling well, I cared for my grandmother in my own home over five years until she passed away just shy of her 98th birthday. She had Alzheimer’s disease and was quite a handful. However, it was very fulfilling personally to be able to be there as she struggled in her final years. If you face a similar situation, please contact our local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch. They have some wonderful people and there is also a 24-hour hotline where you can speak to someone compassionate when you are struggling at 800-272-3900. Thankfully, The Credit for Caring Act which was introduced back in May in the U.S. Senate looks likely to pass, and it will give a tax credit of up to $5K to working family caregivers. It would give eligible family members a 30% credit for qualified expenses above $2K, paying for things like home care aides, adult day care, respite care and home modifications like ramps and smart technology to make your home safer.
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/info-2021/new-credit-for-caring-act.html
AARP The Magazine recently ran an article about financial elder abuse, which, unfortunately, is often done by a family member. Liz Loewy, former chief of the Elder Abuse Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and now chief operating officer of a financial-monitoring company EverSafe said these crimes are all too prevalent. Sadly, many cases go unreported. A study of New York residents found that only 1 in 44 elder abuse cases were reported to authorities. “They may start out helping a parent, with good intentions, and then, after the parent exhibits signs of diminished capacity, start diverting funds,” Lowey said. “It often starts small, then progresses into ‘I wrote a few checks to pay for Johnny’s college. l always said she wanted to help with tuition.’ Or beyond that, home improvement or a new car,” she said. If you believe that you are witnessing elder abuse, please call Adult Protective Services. Unfortunately, with the wealth on the Monterey Peninsula residents of Carmel, PG and Pebble Beach are often targeted.
AARP has a ton of discounts, including eyeglasses, restaurants and hotels. Now that people are starting to travel again, don’t forget to bring your AARP card. The organization has negotiated cheap rates at Best Western, Choice Hotels, Extra Holidays, Hilton, Motel 6, Radison, Studio 6, and Wyndham as well as a number of independently owned hotels.
Due to the significant amount of wealth on the Monterey Peninsula, we are inundated with press stories regarding financial elder abuse. The amounts stolen from seniors is staggering, and sadly, it’s often done by close friends or family. AARP The Magazine focused on this recently (April/May 2021, page 82), highlighting its award-winning Podcast The Perfect Scam, which details how con artists work and share tips to better protect you and your loved ones from a scam. List to it at www.aarp.org/pdcasts/theperfectscam. . If you believe that you are witnessing elder abuse, please call Adult Protective Services. Unfortunately, with the wealth on the Monterey Peninsula residents of Carmel, PG and Pebble Beach are often targeted.
Join Alzheimer’s Association and AARP on March 30 at 3:00 p.m. for a webinar on Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. They will give you a great framework to guide both you and a loved one through this difficult process. To register, click on this link:
https://action.alz.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Events/ALZ/MeetingRegistration.aspx?productId=73583196
Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away. There are great people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch. They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.
https://action.alz.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Default.aspx?TabID=1356&productId=73583196
AARP The Magazine recently published an article about the fact that most seniors don’t get enough Vitamin D. With COVID-19 keeping people indoors more, this is becoming more of a problem. The article said that more than half of Americans might be Vitamin D deficient. If you can’t get outside, try foods like fatty fish (salmon, trout and mackerel) and Portobello mushrooms. Fortified milk is also a good source. If none of this works for you, get some supplements!