Archive for April, 2011

Experts say senior financial abuse will become a prevalent problem over the next few decades as the number of seniors grows. Unfortunately, these same seniors are victimized by their own relatives or people they confide and trust in.

Senior Financial abuse takes many forms. Some of the warning signs include:

• Illegally accessing a senior’s bank accounts, Social Security checks, pension payments, IRA or pension accounts, credit card or ATM; Identity Theft and Withholding portions of checks cashed for a senior

• Charging a senior excessive rent or unreasonable fees for basic care (e.g., transportation, food, or medicine)

• Scams (e.g., bogus sweepstakes, lotteries) that use deception, scare tactics, or exaggerated claims to get money from seniors

• “Conning” by con artists who make their living preying on others and “befriend” elders

• Calls from telemarketers selling worthless, over priced, or nonexistent products

• Unfair or misleading home equity agreements that cause seniors to lose their homes

• Unscrupulous home repair contractors

• Age inappropriate financial products and services

• Fraudulent lifelong care offers in exchange for money or property

• Use a senior’s property or possessions without permission

• Forging a senior’s signature

• Coercing a senior to sign a deed, will, or power of attorney

• Pressuring a senior to give a “gift”

• Claiming to have found money and offering to split it with a senior if he or she first pays some amount as a sign of good faith

• Convincing a senior his or her child has been injured or is in jail and needs money

If you know a senior who may need help, contact your local police precinct or your local Department of Social Services. If you know a senior who is living alone at home who may need a medical alert system, give us a call at 1-800-595-0718.

One of the questions we get all the time is: Does Medicare/Medicaid pay for my medical alert system?  The answer is generally no. For the most part, medical alert systems or personal emergency response systems are not covered by Medicare. Sometimes, charitable organizations like churches and non-profits will have senior adult ministries established that may provide some of the costs for medical alert systems.  You may also check to see if your state has an Office on Aging and provides Medicaid Waivers for medical alert systems.  Sometimes certain localities may provide medicare waivers for PERS  but don’t count on it these days with all of the government agencies having to cut and scale back on expenses.

Give us a call at MedFirst Alert if you would like to discuss different pricing options.  We accept monthly payments as well as those wishing discounts for annual payments.  Our care specialists will be happy to answer all of your questions about affordable pricing and how our medical alert systems work.

1-800-595-0718