Hot Item Elder Abuse Scam : Many Seniors Are Falling For It

A woman in blue shirt holding a cleaning brush.


The AARP Fraud Watch Network has received numerous complaints from seniors who have fallen victim to what they are calling the “Hot Item Scam.â€Â  This is where scammers advertise hard-to-find items using keywords like “Nike sneakers latest edition†or “Xbox,†taking your credit card number and not shipping the item.  If you are lucky, you can get the charge reversed by your credit card company.  But some scammers do this very quickly, closing their merchant account so it is hard for your bank to retrieve the funds.

Two Free COVID Test Options : Online Is The Easiest Option

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


Americans can now get free at-home COVID-19 tests, either by ordering online or buying them at the store and getting reimbursed by private insurance.  Ordering them online at COVIDTests.gov is by far the easiest way.  I went in and filled out the form online and ordered four tests for free and the process was easy (although the tests have yet to arrive).  Those with private health insurance can also buy the tests at their local drugstore and applying for reimbursement from their private insurer or Medicare Advantage Plan if they cover it (Medicare does not cover this).  However, this can be a complicated process.  Anyone who has tried to file a claim themselves with an insurance company knows that the process is very slow and can be painful.  Reimbursement policies differ by insurance carrier so if four at-home tests will tide you over for the month, that is by far your best bet.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/covid-test-kits-purchase-reimbursement-insurance/?tid=newsletter-dailydozen&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailydozen&cdlcid=607e1442fe2c195e916f3bb4

Elder Abuse Scam : The Trick Payment Method

A man and woman sitting back to back.


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.

Hope For Seniors With Significant Hearing Loss

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Thanks to a cochlear implant (CI)—a surgically imbedded bionic ear, many seniors with significant hearing loss, some even deaf, have been able to regain their hearing after an operation which seems no less than a miracle.  Unfortunately, only 5-7% of those who could benefit from the surgery opt to get the surgery.  A scant 739K of them have been implanted worldwide.  That’s sad because loss of hearing can lead to other health issues such as cognitive decline.  The decisive factor in whether or not you will benefit from CI is that you have a healthy auditory nerve.  “Hearing is a major mode of communication,†J. Thomas Roland Jr., a surgeon and chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at NYU, told AARP Bulletin.  “If you give that back to someone, the brain is rocking again.  It is doing what it is supposed to do,†he said.

New Facebook & Instagram Elder Abuse Scams

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


There is never a dearth of elder abuse scams, and with many people staying at home more due to COVID-19, it’s no surprise that the online shopping sector has been plagued with scams.  One man told AARP Bulletin that he ordered a stationary bicycle through Facebook and it never arrived.  Many Facebook and Instagram users have reported purchasing expensive items using their PayPal account, and the vendor then sends some worthless knick knack, using this as proof of delivery when the transaction is disputed with PayPal or a credit card company.  You should always purchase items from well known sellers.

Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA OR HHA Designation A Plus

A woman sitting next to an older person.


Carmel-by-the-sea, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA OR HHA Designation A Plus (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad & Watsonville

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade and have recently expanded into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey is seeking compassionate, mature and dependable caregivers who want to improve the lives of our elderly Clients by providing in-home, non-medical care.  Our services include:

Caring companionship

Meal preparation

Incidental transportation

Running errands

Light housekeeping

Medication reminders

Monitoring of safety while bathing

Information and referral services

Other services that improve the safety, security and quality of life of seniors.

If you believe you would make an exceptional Home Care Aide, we would love to hear from you!  We prefer those with experience helping the elderly, disabled and others with mobility problems.  Having cared for those with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s is a plus.  To work for us, you must have excellent references, a clear criminal record, a good driving record, and an insured reliable vehicle.  To apply, please visit our website www.fhcofm.com, click on home care aides, then careers where you can fill out an application online.  We have immediate openings all over Monterey County.

Free N95 Masks Coming Soon To A Drugstore Near You

A man wearing a mask with yellow warning tape around his mouth.


The Biden administration is expected to begin distributing a whopping 400 million free N95 masks to Americans all over the country.  The masks are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile and will be distributed via local pharmacies and community health centers.  The number of masks being distributed comprise about half of our National Stockpile.

 

AARP Finding Solutions To Live Longer In A Healthy Manner

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It’s important to increase longevity only if we can find ways to do so in excellent health.  When the United Nations declared the years 2021 to 2030 the “Decade of Healthy Aging,†it noted that there is a growing gap between how long someone will live and how many healthy years of life he or she can expect. AARP recently convened an international panel of experts for its Global Conference on Redefining Health : New Approaches for How We Live And Age.â€Â  The focus is on ensuring access to health care services for all older adults, strengthening the availability of long-term care, supporting aging in place and caring for older people in crisis conditions.  They have made significant progress.  Just one example is the U.S. hospital-at-home program which works to reduce strain on the health care system by offering us quality care in our own homes.  This has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has many hospitals overloaded.  The program has been so successful in the U.S. that its’ been expanded into Asia, Australia and Europe.

New Elder Abuse Scam : Investing In Silver Or Gold


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.

Carmel Valley, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA OR HHA Designation A Plus

A person holding hands with another person in bed.


Carmel Valley, CA Home Care Aide (HCA) Senior Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Jobs Available : Set Your Own Hours: $2/Hour Extra On The Weekends CNA OR HHA Designation A Plus (Also Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-sea, Castroville, Corral-de-Tierra, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Prunedale, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad & Watsonville

We have developed a reputation for having the best caregivers (Home Care Aides or Senior Companions) in Monterey County over the past decade and have recently expanded into Santa Cruz County.   We are currently looking for qualified caregivers.

 

Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey is seeking compassionate, mature and dependable caregivers who want to improve the lives of our elderly Clients by providing in-home, non-medical care.  Our services include:

Caring companionship

Meal preparation

Incidental transportation

Running errands

Light housekeeping

Medication reminders

Monitoring of safety while bathing

Information and referral services

Other services that improve the safety, security and quality of life of seniors.

 

If you believe you would make an exceptional Home Care Aide, we would love to hear from you!  We prefer those with experience helping the elderly, disabled and others with mobility problems.  Having cared for those with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s is a plus.  To work for us, you must have excellent references, a clear criminal record, a good driving record, and an insured reliable vehicle.  To apply, please visit our website www.fhcofm.com, click on home care aides, then careers where you can fill out an application online.  We have immediate openings all over Monterey County.