The Talbot County’s Senior Financial Exploitation Task Force recently hosted its second annual workshop, “Stop Senior Exploitation” at the Talbot Senior Center at Brookletts Place in Easton, MD. The workshop, which coincides with National Elder Abuse Awareness Day that week, educated the community about the risks and vulnerabilities that our seniors face, particularly in regard to financial, Medicare and insurance fraud and marketing scams. The issue of financial exploitation by mail, computer and phone is increasingly affecting seniors every day.
According to a Proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, President Barack Obama wrote, “Elder abuse can take many forms — including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation –and it is important for all Americans to learn how to recognize and report mistreatment. The way we treat our older citizens reflects our values as a society, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure all our seniors receive the support and protection they deserve.”
Topics for the workshop included Medicare fraud, protecting your medication, MD Insurance Administration, Internet safety for seniors, adult protective services, advanced directives and medical power of attorney, and awareness about financial exploitation. Of particular interest at this year’s workshop was the advice shared by Ted Book from Easton Utilities Commission. Book commented, “Seventy-four percent of adults use social media. There are security risks to using these applications which people need to be aware of.”
The event was sponsored by a task force comprised of local professionals from The Talbot Bank, the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP/SMP), Home Instead Senior Care, Talbot County Department of Social Services, the Maryland Insurance Administration. Candle Light Cove Assisted Living and Memory Care and Home Instead Senior Care were gold sponsors of the event.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.