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Seniors are one of the fastest-growing groups of gamblers. Between 1974 and 1994, the percentage of seniors who “recently gambled” jumped from 20 to 50 percent. And a recent study found gambling to be the most frequently identified social activity among adults over 65, with casinos and bingo surpassing movies, lunch, shopping and golf as preferred social activities.
There are a number of reasons why seniors may be vulnerable to gambling problems. Senior citizens are often catered to by casinos, with bus transportation, free or discounted meals, special rewards and other prizes that attract older individuals. Gambling may provide a distraction to escape the loss of a spouse or a medical concern. Some may have financial problems they are seeking to overcome. The attention of casino staff may reduce feelings of loneliness. Cognitive impairment may prevent the recognition of a gambling problem.
Seniors may not understand addiction and be reluctant to seek help. Studies show that seniors are at risk for developing gambling problems. A 2006 New Jersey Study found that 23 percent of New Jersey residents over 55 had at least one symptom of a gambling problem. A 2005 Pennsylvania study found that 10 percent of those over 65 in a primary care facility were at risk for problem gambling.
Signs of seniors having a gambling problem include loss of interest and participation in normal activities with friends and families, blocks of time unaccounted for, missing possessions or assets, and changes in attitude and personality. Gambling problems may also be evidenced by neglect of personal needs (food, utilities and medical), secrecy and avoidance when discussing time and money, and depression. Seniors with a gambling problem and their loved ones need to know that help is available.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) operates a 24-hour National Problem Gambling Helpline, a link for treatment, recovery groups and other resources for problem gamblers and their family members. Often, simply a kind and helpful listener can help a senior admit to a problem and seek help. To learn more or find help, call (800) 522-4700 or visit www.ncpgambling.org.
Bullying and Senior Adults- Libby Deege
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Great Article by John McDonald
You’ve seen it on the news; you’ve heard the stories. Too many times, Senior Adults find themselves victimized by unscrupulous telemarketers, con artists, and taken advantage of by dishonest insurance agents.
Now, if that isn’t bad enough, many Senior Adults who are living in Nursing Home facilities find out that they are the subjects of bullying in these facilities as well.
Senior Adults are also the number one victim of investment scams. 1 In fact, telemarketing scams are so heavily geared towards Senior Adults, that the FBI2, the Federal Trade Commission, and the AARP have taken steps to protect Senior Adults from bullying telemarketers.
Laws have been put in place, and the creation of the National Do Not Call List has made its way nationwide to prevent telemarketers from targeting unsuspecting Senior Adults.
Senior Adults are targeted for many frauds including Medicare Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Construction or Home Improvement Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Prescription Drug Plan Fraud, Door to Door Sales Fraud, Charitable Donations Fraud, Work at Home Fraud, Foreign Lotteries Fraud, Sweepstakes Fraud, Phishing Fraud, and Internet Auction Fraud.
There are many reasons why Senior Adults are targeted for fraud and telemarketing scams. A few of them are that many Senior Adults have established a “nest egg”, and con artists are well aware that these Seniors have money.
Many con artists are well aware that the majority of Seniors are trusting and good hearted people. They have mastered the art of smooth talking them with what appears to be genuine smiles and friendly conversation. Too often, Seniors aren’t even aware that they have been the victims of con artists until it is much too late, and the con artist have far left town.
These con artists work in many arenas to victimize Seniors. From construction, to telemarketing prize giveaways, insurance claims, and investment scams, it is imperative that Seniors learn how to say no to telemarketers, sales men, and potential con artists. They must learn to hang up the phone and close the door and protect their livelihoods.
Another sad fact that targets Senior Adults to bullying con artists is the fact that many Seniors have trouble with their memory. In fact, this is another reason that con artists choose to target Seniors. Con artists will “talk a good talk” relying on the fact that many of their Senior Adult victims will be unlikely to recall every detail that would be used against them in a court of law.
Too often, the Senior Adult is unaware that they have been the victim of a scam, fraud, or con until it is much later- usually a couple months of have passed since the initial contact with the con artist. This makes the Senior Adult a potentially poor witness and hinders the rendering of justice.
The best action any Senior Adult can take to prevent themselves from the schemes and plans of dishonest con artists is to be prepared.
A great resource for all Senior Adults is their local AARP. The AARP has spent countless hours of research, and money into finding the best methods and tools to help keep Senior Adults safe.
They have worked with many federal and state organizations and have many resources available to equip Senior Adults with knowledge that will prevent them from becoming the victims of ruthless, bullying con artists.
When it comes to Senior Adults and healthcare, no one would ever suspect that their physician might be bullying them out of Medicare dollars by billing them for services they never had.
Yet it is all too familiar and happens more often then you may believe. The number one person who can catch Medicare or Medicaid fraud is the Senior Adult himself. You can help prevent Medicare fraud by looking for multiple claims for the same service, checking to see if the service being billed was actually performed, and by seeing if you were charged a higher price for equipment that you received.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, you should first contact your physician to see if it was an honest billing mistake. If after further investigation, you still have the sense that something isn’t right, you can call the Medicare Fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477. They will investigate the mater for you.
To reduce telemarketing scams and frauds, Senior Adults can elect to have their phone number placed upon the “No Call List”. You may access your local No Call directory by visiting the website, https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx. At this website, you can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call directory and receive further information regarding the No Call List.
Home Improvement fraud is another area where Senior Elders need to be careful. Due to the fact that many Seniors own homes and are home during the day they are targeted by con artists who plan to win them over with friendly smiles and small talk, only to bilk them out of thousands of dollars.
When contractors come to your door offering free estimates, you need to think twice before going into any business with these people. Though they may be legitimate, there is no way to know for sure, without checking their references, checking to make sure they have valid business licenses, and above all else, get other estimates by other known companies to affirm that what they have told you is indeed fact. Finally, never give a contractor large down payments of money before you have thoroughly checked out their credentials.
Many times, Senior Adults are advised by con artists not to include their family members in any of the details of the scams. This applies to home improvement scams, telemarketing scams, and sweepstake scams.
If you believe one of your Senior relatives may be the victims of a scam, you should get involved. Many times, if Seniors have been victimized, they may fear to tell anyone because they don’t want to appear incompetent.
Senior Adults should also take extra care in guarding their Medicare cards and Credit cards. Never give out your Medicare number to anyone asking for it for a “free” service.
You should always consult with your Medicare literature to find out what services are covered and which are not. If a service isn’t covered, and a provider asks for your number, they may be committing Medicaid fraud.
Also, you should never put your pin number on your credit card. If your card was ever stolen, someone could use your card and access an ATM machine. You must take care to keep all of your personal information safe. One way that you can keep your personal information safe is by tearing or shredding all personal and financial information before throwing it away.
Many unscrupulous con artists who are looking to steal your identity will comb through dumpsters and trash bins looking for information that contains bank account numbers, social security numbers, and other persona identifications.
When traveling or going out in public, limit the amount of credit cards and personal information related documents that you bring with you. These con artists are looking to steal purses and wallets to take as much of your personal identification as possible.
The best rule is to be wary of giving out credit card numbers and Medicaid numbers unless you verify that it is a bonifide business.
Case Scenario
Margaret Mills woke in the middle of the night with pains in her chest. She managed to call 911 before losing consciousness. She was suffering from a mild heart attack. She spent nearly three weeks in the hospital before being able to return home. When she checked her Medicaid Summary statement, she noticed several charges that she did not incur.
There were two charges for ambulatory services, when she knew she had only had one trip to the hospital in the ambulance. She also noticed several charges for home rehabilitation therapy that took place on the dates that she was still in the hospital. Margaret immediately contacted the billing department of the hospital and was told that the charge was to reimburse the physical therapy she received while in the hospital.
Margaret noticed that the charges clearly stated that they took place in her home and were for a substantial amount of money.
She decided to call the Medicare hotline, which assured her that they would investigate and told her that it sounded like a case of Medicare fraud
You’ve seen it on the news; you’ve heard the stories. Too many times, Senior Adults find themselves victimized by unscrupulous telemarketers, con artists, and taken advantage of by dishonest insurance agents.
Now, if that isn’t bad enough, many Senior Adults who are living in Nursing Home facilities find out that they are the subjects of bullying in these facilities as well.
Senior Adults are also the number one victim of investment scams. 1 In fact, telemarketing scams are so heavily geared towards Senior Adults, that the FBI2, the Federal Trade Commission, and the AARP have taken steps to protect Senior Adults from bullying telemarketers.
Laws have been put in place, and the creation of the National Do Not Call List has made its way nationwide to prevent telemarketers from targeting unsuspecting Senior Adults.
Senior Adults are targeted for many frauds including Medicare Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Construction or Home Improvement Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Prescription Drug Plan Fraud, Door to Door Sales Fraud, Charitable Donations Fraud, Work at Home Fraud, Foreign Lotteries Fraud, Sweepstakes Fraud, Phishing Fraud, and Internet Auction Fraud.
There are many reasons why Senior Adults are targeted for fraud and telemarketing scams. A few of them are that many Senior Adults have established a “nest egg”, and con artists are well aware that these Seniors have money.
Many con artists are well aware that the majority of Seniors are trusting and good hearted people. They have mastered the art of smooth talking them with what appears to be genuine smiles and friendly conversation. Too often, Seniors aren’t even aware that they have been the victims of con artists until it is much too late, and the con artist have far left town.
These con artists work in many arenas to victimize Seniors. From construction, to telemarketing prize giveaways, insurance claims, and investment scams, it is imperative that Seniors learn how to say no to telemarketers, sales men, and potential con artists. They must learn to hang up the phone and close the door and protect their livelihoods.
Another sad fact that targets Senior Adults to bullying con artists is the fact that many Seniors have trouble with their memory. In fact, this is another reason that con artists choose to target Seniors. Con artists will “talk a good talk” relying on the fact that many of their Senior Adult victims will be unlikely to recall every detail that would be used against them in a court of law.
Too often, the Senior Adult is unaware that they have been the victim of a scam, fraud, or con until it is much later- usually a couple months of have passed since the initial contact with the con artist. This makes the Senior Adult a potentially poor witness and hinders the rendering of justice.
The best action any Senior Adult can take to prevent themselves from the schemes and plans of dishonest con artists is to be prepared.
A great resource for all Senior Adults is their local AARP. The AARP has spent countless hours of research, and money into finding the best methods and tools to help keep Senior Adults safe.
They have worked with many federal and state organizations and have many resources available to equip Senior Adults with knowledge that will prevent them from becoming the victims of ruthless, bullying con artists.
When it comes to Senior Adults and healthcare, no one would ever suspect that their physician might be bullying them out of Medicare dollars by billing them for services they never had.
Yet it is all too familiar and happens more often then you may believe. The number one person who can catch Medicare or Medicaid fraud is the Senior Adult himself. You can help prevent Medicare fraud by looking for multiple claims for the same service, checking to see if the service being billed was actually performed, and by seeing if you were charged a higher price for equipment that you received.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, you should first contact your physician to see if it was an honest billing mistake. If after further investigation, you still have the sense that something isn’t right, you can call the Medicare Fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477. They will investigate the mater for you.
To reduce telemarketing scams and frauds, Senior Adults can elect to have their phone number placed upon the “No Call List”. You may access your local No Call directory by visiting the website, https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx. At this website, you can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call directory and receive further information regarding the No Call List.
Home Improvement fraud is another area where Senior Elders need to be careful. Due to the fact that many Seniors own homes and are home during the day they are targeted by con artists who plan to win them over with friendly smiles and small talk, only to bilk them out of thousands of dollars.
When contractors come to your door offering free estimates, you need to think twice before going into any business with these people. Though they may be legitimate, there is no way to know for sure, without checking their references, checking to make sure they have valid business licenses, and above all else, get other estimates by other known companies to affirm that what they have told you is indeed fact. Finally, never give a contractor large down payments of money before you have thoroughly checked out their credentials.
Many times, Senior Adults are advised by con artists not to include their family members in any of the details of the scams. This applies to home improvement scams, telemarketing scams, and sweepstake scams.
If you believe one of your Senior relatives may be the victims of a scam, you should get involved. Many times, if Seniors have been victimized, they may fear to tell anyone because they don’t want to appear incompetent.
Senior Adults should also take extra care in guarding their Medicare cards and Credit cards. Never give out your Medicare number to anyone asking for it for a “free” service.
You should always consult with your Medicare literature to find out what services are covered and which are not. If a service isn’t covered, and a provider asks for your number, they may be committing Medicaid fraud.
Also, you should never put your pin number on your credit card. If your card was ever stolen, someone could use your card and access an ATM machine. You must take care to keep all of your personal information safe. One way that you can keep your personal information safe is by tearing or shredding all personal and financial information before throwing it away.
Many unscrupulous con artists who are looking to steal your identity will comb through dumpsters and trash bins looking for information that contains bank account numbers, social security numbers, and other persona identifications.
When traveling or going out in public, limit the amount of credit cards and personal information related documents that you bring with you. These con artists are looking to steal purses and wallets to take as much of your personal identification as possible.
The best rule is to be wary of giving out credit card numbers and Medicaid numbers unless you verify that it is a bonifide business.
Case Scenario
Margaret Mills woke in the middle of the night with pains in her chest. She managed to call 911 before losing consciousness. She was suffering from a mild heart attack. She spent nearly three weeks in the hospital before being able to return home. When she checked her Medicaid Summary statement, she noticed several charges that she did not incur.
There were two charges for ambulatory services, when she knew she had only had one trip to the hospital in the ambulance. She also noticed several charges for home rehabilitation therapy that took place on the dates that she was still in the hospital. Margaret immediately contacted the billing department of the hospital and was told that the charge was to reimburse the physical therapy she received while in the hospital.
Margaret noticed that the charges clearly stated that they took place in her home and were for a substantial amount of money.
She decided to call the Medicare hotline, which assured her that they would investigate and told her that it sounded like a case of Medicare fraud
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