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elderly-frauds-and-scams
September 20, 2023
Senior care
Horizon

A Guide to Guarding Against Elderly Frauds and Scams

As our loved ones age, ensuring their well-being becomes a top priority. While many of us focus on their physical health and emotional needs, it’s equally crucial to protect them from financial exploitation and scams that specifically target older adults. Horizon Care Services, committed to the well-being of seniors, is here to guide you through the steps to safeguard your aging parents from elderly frauds and scams.

Understanding the Threat

Elderly frauds and scams come in various forms, from phone calls impersonating government agencies to fake emails requesting personal information. These scammers prey on seniors’ vulnerabilities, often leading to devastating financial losses and emotional distress.

  1. Educate Your Parents: The first line of defense is knowledge. Sit down with your aging parents and educate them about common scams targeting seniors. Explain the signs of fraud, such as unsolicited calls or requests for personal information.
  2. Stress the Importance of Privacy: Emphasize the importance of keeping personal information private. Remind your parents never to share their Social Security numbers, bank account details, or Medicare numbers with strangers, whether over the phone, through email, or in person.
  3. Implement Call Screening: Consider setting up call screening or caller ID services that help identify potential scam calls. Teach your parents to let unknown calls go to voicemail and return them only if they recognize the caller.
  4. Use Strong Passwords: Ensure your parents use strong, unique passwords for online accounts and avoid sharing them with anyone. Password managers can help simplify this process.
  5. Monitor Financial Statements: Encourage your parents to regularly review their bank and credit card statements for any suspicious or unauthorized transactions. Swift reporting of discrepancies is crucial.
  6. Stay Informed: Stay up-to-date with the latest scams targeting seniors. Government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and AARP provide valuable resources and alerts.

Recognizing Red Flags

Being able to identify red flags is essential in protecting aging parents from fraud:

  1. Too Good to Be True: Warn your parents about deals or opportunities that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use this tactic to lure victims.
  2. Pressure Tactics: Scammers may use high-pressure tactics, claiming an urgent need for personal or financial information. Encourage your parents to take their time and verify the caller’s legitimacy.
  3. Emotional Manipulation: Scammers may exploit emotions, creating a sense of urgency or fear. Advise your parents to remain calm and not make hasty decisions.
  4. Request for Payment: Beware of any request for payment through unconventional methods, such as gift cards or wire transfers. Legitimate entities rarely ask for payment in these forms.
  5. No Contact Information: If a caller refuses to provide contact information or becomes aggressive when questioned, it’s likely a scam.

Taking Preventive Measures

Preventing elderly fraud is as crucial as recognizing the signs:

  1. Legal Documents: Ensure your parents have proper legal documents in place, including wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. These documents can protect their assets and wishes.
  2. Set Up Direct Deposit: Arrange for Social Security and pension payments to be deposited directly into your parent’s bank account to reduce the risk of check theft.
  3. Consolidate Financial Accounts: Streamline your parent’s financial accounts to make monitoring easier and reduce the risk of unauthorized transactions.
  4. Consult Financial Advisors: Consider involving financial advisors or elder law attorneys to provide expert guidance on asset protection and financial planning.
  5. Report Suspected Scams: Encourage your parents to report any suspected scams to local law enforcement and relevant agencies, such as the FTC or their state’s attorney general.

Protecting aging parents from elderly frauds and scams requires vigilance, education, and open communication. Horizon Care Services is dedicated to promoting the well-being of seniors, and we hope this guide helps you safeguard your loved ones’ financial security and peace of mind. By staying informed, recognizing red flags, and taking preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of your aging parents falling victim to scams and frauds, allowing them to enjoy their golden years free from financial worry.

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private-duty-care-for-seniors-with-diabetes
January 9, 2023
Senior care
Horizon

Steps To Fight Type 2 Diabetes At Any Age

Type 2 diabetes affects 18% of adults in the US, and numbers in kids is rising. It is also a big concern for our growing senior population. More and more people are being diagnosed with it each year.

The best cure for type 2 diabetes is prevention. If you already have diabetes then this article is for you! We will be covering the best ways to fight against Type 2 diabetes and possibly reverse the effects.

No one thing is the cause of diabetes, it happens from a combination of factors that are interconnected.

So to bring the body back into balance we have to treat it as a whole. The common treatment is medication, but that will not reverse the problem. To fix the problem we need to correct the problem within each cell.

You should always consult your doctor before you alter or change any medication that you might be taking and also be sure to follow all your medical professional’s advice.

Key Steps To Reverse Diabetes

Bringing Insulin Under Control

Bringing your insulin under control is the first step. Insulin resistance is what triggers diabetes, by balancing the body you can regain the proper insulin sensitivity and start to reverse the problem.

Avoiding Insulin Triggers

Begin by limiting your consumption of grains, processed carbohydrates and sugars, these are insulin triggers that cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Instead you should focus on healthy fats, green veggies and lean proteins, including, chicken, turkey and fish.

Balance Fat Intake

Another essential step is learning to balance your fats. Eating too much Omega-6 is a known factor in diabetes. Be aware of your intake of both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats and bring their intake ratio to 1:1.

While adjustments to your diet are being made you might want to use a quality Omega-3 oil as a supplement. It’s recommended that you stay away from Omega-6 seed oil and any of their sources (be aware that these oils are used in most restaurants). A good natural source for Omega-3 is fatty fish, such as, sardines and salmon.

Intestinal Issues

To make sure you get the proper nutrients into the body you will need to fix any problems in the intestines. Many toxins and grains can cause damage to the lining of the intestines, this can cause leaky gut syndrome.

Antibiotic use or a poor diet can cause the beneficial bacteria of the gut to be depleted. This will cause nutrients to be absorbed poorly and result in improper digestion. Avoiding grains, removing toxins and taking a quality probiotic will help your intestines to start to heal.

Exercise

One of the best things up can do for your body is to exercise! Working out will increase the ability of your muscles to use insulin! Over time, this can help fix your body’s resistance to insulin.

According to research, the best type of exercise for your insulin levels is short bursts of high intensity activity. A study found that 6 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) done once a week is just as effective as 1 hour of moderate daily activity!

Weight Loss

Weight loss is a critical factor in controlling diabetes. Diabetes and obesity are interconnected and linked together. Studies have shown that losing weight will help to halt diabetes.

Exercise can increase your metabolism and help you to burn more calories. A healthy diet will give you the proper nutrients and reduce hunger cravings. These lifestyle improvements will help you lose unwanted weight and reverse your diabetes.

Stress Reduction

Stress can cause more health problems than almost any other factor, this is because almost all other factors cause stress. Stress increases cortisol levels and can lead to an imbalance in your hormones, issues with insulin and raises the risk of many types of illnesses.

Stress comes from many places, such as, from exposure to toxins, poor diet, and lack of sleep, emotional and mental sources. Learning to meditate, breathing and getting the proper amount of sleep can reduce stress levels while balancing your hormones and blood sugar.

Supplements

Your body needs the building blocks to fix itself. Supplements are a great source of these building blocks. The supplements that are commonly used to help diabetes are Omega-3 fatty acids, chromium, alpha lipoic acid, garlic, magnesium, cinnamon and coenzyme Q10.

Bottom Line

It is possible to reverse Type 2 diabetes and get your blood sugars under control, talk with your doctor and follow a smart plan to recovery.

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aging-and-mental-health-caregiver-help
June 3, 2022
Senior care
Horizon

Aging And Mental Health

According to the Mayo Clinic there are a number of physical and mental changes we go through as we get older. These include both noticeable and hidden physical changes as well as decreasing brain functions. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070).

Problems with memory and cognitive skills are recognized parts of aging and there are ways to combat this. What is less understood is that aging can also take a toll on our mental health beyond slowing brain function and this can lead to psychological issues.

Depression In Later Life

According to WebMD late-life depression may annually affect 6 million Americans over the age of 65. When it comes to late onset depression it tends to vary from that experienced by younger sufferers. This is because it is often the result of a person’s natural physical decline as they age. (https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-elderly).

Chronic illness and declining physical capabilities can actually cause those over 65 to become depressed. Feelings of not being as strong as they once were or impending concerns of mortality can deeply affect a person’s mental health. This type of depression can be far more long lasting than other forms likely due to the inability to vastly change the root concerns.

Anxiety In Later Life

Elder care expert Deborah Stone suggests that many people assume that anxiety decreases as we age, but that may be incorrect. Stone says that many older individuals who suffer anxiety may have experienced it for many years but have never been diagnosed. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/caring-the-caregivers/202002/anxiety-and-panic-in-older-people).

The added problems and risks faced by older individuals can induce much higher levels of anxiety. Increasing infirmity physically brings the very real anxiety of a heightened risk of falling. This increased risk and the higher likelihood of injury as we age can make for a heightened level of anxiety.

Stress As We Age

Harvard Health suggests that as we age it can be increasingly more difficult for us to cope with stress. One of the major reasons for this is our physical decline which makes it harder to deal with the physical symptoms of stress. Our cardiovascular system is weakened and more at risk from the damage of high stress situations. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/does-stress-management-become-more-difficult-as-you-age).

Dementia

Poor mental health is not always a psychological issue that can be solved with therapy especially in later life. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia become a greater risk to those of advancing years. According to the Mayo Clinic  dementia can cause memory loss, communication issues, loss of reasoning capabilities, confusion, and disorientation. ( https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013).

Caused by gradually developing brain deterioration these cognitive impairment conditions are manageable but generally incurable. As a result, sufferers experience a myriad of mental health issues including confusion, depression, anxiety and vastly altered moods.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a global problem which can affect people of all ages but generally focus is placed on younger individuals. The American Addiction Centers suggests that addiction to substances such as alcohol can even begin in later life. (https://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/effects/age-and-substance-abuse/).

Issues such as boredom, anxiety, loneliness, and depression can lead older individuals toward substance abuse as a way to cope with life. They also may be experiencing increasing pain as they get older which could lead to prescription drug addictions.

Final Thoughts

Old age is a time of massive change in people’s lives. They no longer feel young and they have less life ahead of them than they had in the 20s or 30s. It can become difficult to be optimistic and happy which can result in declining mental health.

The big problem is that it often goes unnoticed because people assume that they are just slowing down and maybe becoming cranky. In reality their mental health may be suffering and they may need some help to get through a difficult time in their lives.

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