Are you a professional who works hard to help your clients navigate their long-term care options, legal matters, and authority issues? If so, we encourage you to call and request our FREE four Legal Guide Series developed in partnership with Jan Neal, our Legal Service Provider at Jan Neal Law Firm, LLC.
Electronic versions of our Legal Guides can be found at the Legal Services section of our website AND we have hard copies available we would be happy to send to you at no cost.
Please contact our office and request copies today to distribute to your clients and community members. If you need a large quantity of the guides, please contact Robyn James at rjames@m4a.org and she will make arrangements to get them to your office!
Older consumers who report losing money to fraud are reporting a disturbing trend: Scammers claiming to be a loved one in trouble are getting people 70 and over to send thousands of dollars in cash.
In the second Consumer Protection Data Spotlight, the Federal Trade Commission examined complaints about family and friend imposter scams. These scammers often call seniors claiming to be a grandchild. The FTC is seeing an increase in the number of people ages 70 and over who say they sent cash in response to this particular scam – one in four said they mailed cash in 2018, compared to one in fourteen the prior year. In about half of these types of complaints, the scammer said they were in jail or some other legal trouble and in need of money to get out of trouble.
All age groups reported losing more money over the last 12 months to family and friend imposter scams – a total of $41 million, compared to $26 million the previous year. The most striking concern is individual losses by older Americans. The median loss for this scam was $2,000, but when seniors ages 70 and over said they put cash in the mail, their median loss was $9,000.
The FTC urges those who might get such a call to not act right away. Instead, the FTC recommends calling the family member or friend using a known number, or checking out the request with someone else in their family or a mutual friend.
CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS:
Consumer Response Center
877-382-4357
M4A and Living Well Alabama partners have scheduled five new Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) workshops beginning in January as follows:
BLOUNT COUNTY JANUARY 7, 2019
CHILTON COUNTY JANUARY 16, 2019
ST. CLAIR COUNTY JANUARY 10, 2019
SHELBY COUNTY JANUARY 10, 2018
SHELBY COUNTY JANUARY 15, 2019
THE LWA WORKSHOPS ARE FREE SIX WEEK COURSES THAT HELP PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR CHRONIC CONDITION.
PLEASE CONTACT M4A TODAY TO ENROLL IN ONE OF THE UPCOMING LWA WORKSHOPS!
SenioRx helps individuals who lack health insurance or prescription drug coverage obtain the medications they need. We work with pharmaceutical companies to provide free or low cost prescription drugs to qualifying individuals.
SenioRx is no longer just for seniors. People of any age who are disabled, have applied for disability, or their doctor deems them disabled can qualify for help through SenioRx.
SenioRx can also assist Medicare beneficiaries who have reached the coverage gap (donut hole) receive their medications through this program.
If you know of someone needing help receiving their medications, please contact M4A's SenioRX Medication Assistance Program for help.
Put Healthy Food on your Table
Eating healthy doesn’t have to cost more. You can save money on groceries by applying for Alabama’s elderly simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The average senior using SNAP receives $119 each month! That can go a long way when shopping for food. To apply, contact Sharon Echols at sechols@m4a.org or call (205) 670-5770.
For more information about SNAP and Senior Hunger, see the links below:
