Why Does Your Mom Struggle to Recognize Scams?

Posted in Caregiver Tips, Senior Care, Senior Scams |

March 30, 2022

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Two years ago, older adults lost around $600 million to scammers. Pandemic-related scams fooled many people, leading to a swift increase in many scams. Shopping scams increased by 129%. You’ve told your mom all about recognizing scams, yet she still believes many of the emails or calls she gets. You can’t take her phone away, but you see that as the only way to keep her from answering calls. Why does she have such a hard time recognizing scams? Having a senior care services provider on hand to help out with this is a great idea.

 

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

 

Scams Can Be Incredibly Convincing

Some scams are extremely convincing. Scammers use the power of social media and the internet to find out as much as they can about your mom. The grandparent scam is a good example of this.

Scammers will look at social media accounts to find photos that show where a grandchild is going to college or on vacation. They know information that convinces your mom the caller knows or is the grandchild in question.

Mail scams are also common. One person received a letter from a major cellphone company thanking the customer for applying for a new phone account. The letterhead seemed authentic. The company address checked out.

Nothing in the letter seemed false, but the person hadn’t applied for a new phone. Questions arose as to why it claimed credit reports were pulled. The recipient had credit freezes in place. One number in the credit report section turned out to be a fake. Had the recipient called that number, they would have connected with the scammers.

Scammers Work to Improve Their Tactics

As scams fail, the reasons why they failed help con artists improve their tactics. When people smartened up to gift cards or money orders being a sure sign of a scam, con artists asked people to withdraw cash, put it in a box, and send it via a delivery service.

Some scams could use something as simple as answering the phone and saying “yes” to pull off scams. Recording the “yes” was all it took to sign people up for costly services or charges they never agreed to.

Does She Lack Companionship?

Sometimes, older adults don’t have many people to talk to. If the phone rings, they answer it. Once they’re on the line, the scammer can use persuasive techniques to convince your mom they genuinely want to help her.

Have you considered that your mom is lonely and likes having someone to talk to? If she keeps answering the phone due to loneliness, hire senior home care aides for companionship and assistance with her mail, phone calls, and emails.

When she has caregivers available to talk to each week, she may no longer feel the need to rush to answer the phone. Call a senior care agency to learn more.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Dothan, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/ftc-top-scams.html

Tips for Handling End-Stage Cancer in Your Parent

Posted in Caregivers in Dothan AL, Senior Care in Dothan AL |

September 3, 2019

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Handling and dealing with end-stage cancer in your parent can be one of the toughest things you ever do. However, there are some tips for handling this stage of cancer if you need them. While cancer will never get easier to deal with, especially in a loved one, it is with great hope that these tips can guide you in handling it better.

 

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Handling End-Stage Cancer

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Handling End-Stage Cancer

 

Acknowledge Dying and Death

Many people will ignore the words dying and death when they have a parent with end-stage cancer. The problem is, with end-stage cancer, this is what is happening. It can be one of the toughest things you ever have to deal with. However, ignoring the truth that is right in front of you, will make grieving all that much more difficult.

 

Expressing Your Emotions is Helpful

When your parent has end-stage cancer, it is helpful to express your emotions. The positive memories and sad emotions, too, should all be expressed. You may want to act like everything is going to be alright for your parent, but the truth must be put in motion. Your parent knows what is happening, they can feel it physically and emotionally. They don’t expect you to hide from your emotions, no matter what you are feeling.

 

Be Present

While it may be scary and frightening to watch your parent with end-stage cancer, being present in their last years, months, or days is crucial. Show them you love them and you care about them. When it comes to caregivers, family really does matter at all times.

 

Create Positive Conversations

While everything may seem depressing when your parent has end-stage cancer, it can be helpful to create positive conversations. Most of the time the talk may be about symptoms your parent is experiencing, doctor’s appointments, home care provider help, and other things like that. However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. You can increase the positivity in your parent’s last years, months, or days.

 

Listen to Messages Your Parent Has

In the final days, your parent may have messages they want to give to you or others. It is important for their peace of mind and yours that you listen to these messages and convey them appropriately.

 

Get Legal Documents in Order

It will make things easier when your parent passes away if you get legal documents in order ahead of time. Yes, it may be tough to think about doing this, but it is going to save you a lot of stress later on.

If your parent has end-stage cancer, this can be tough. As a family caregiver, you may be having a difficult time coping with it all. However, it is with the hope that these tips find you well. They may be able to help you handle your parent’s end-stage cancer and the entire situation better, as well.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Dothan, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources
Cancer.gov
Nia.nih.gov

 

Five Activities That Bring Generations Together

Posted in Multi-Generational Activities, Senior Care in Dothan AL |

April 21, 2017

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Looking for fun ways to bring senior and junior family members together? Here’s a great list of opportunities!

Finding activities that appeal to you, your senior parent, and your own children can seem overwhelming. You need to spend quality time with your mom or dad, but you also need to include your children. Here are five activities that are fun for all ages.

Board Games and Video Games

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Bringing Generations Together with Fun Activities.

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Bringing Generations Together with Fun Activities.

Board games are great for spending time together. For younger children, games like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders are not too challenging. Life or Monopoly are good choices for grandparents, parents, and teens.

While board games may be more appealing to older generations, some of today’s video games are great for all ages. The Nintendo Wii is packed with games that appeal to children and aging adults. A game of Wii Bowling involves all ages and requires some gentle movements that can help strengthen arm muscles while promoting balance skills too.

Cooking

For some aging parents, it’s hard to cook a meal for one. During a family gathering, everyone can join forces in the kitchen to create some delicious baked goods or an entire meal. Younger kids can help stir or scoop batter onto trays, while older children can handle measuring or finding ingredients.

Gardening

Little kids love to dig in the dirt, and that can be a challenging task for seniors. Let your parent guide your children to where things need to go. Once the plants or seeds are in place, watering can be something your parent and his or her elderly care helper take over. When it’s time to harvest, your kids will enjoy seeing the crops that come from their hard work.

Movie Nights

Plan a movie night together. You don’t even have to go out. Rent a movie, buy some snacks, and have a movie night with your mom or dad. This is a great time to introduce your children to classic movies. Whether it’s an old Disney movie or a classic musical, everyone will have fun.

Scavenger Hunts

Getting your mom or dad outside into the fresh air helps prevent issues like depression. Going for a walk may not seem appealing to your child, but a scavenger hunt turns it into a fun event. Create a list of items to watch for, whether it’s a certain car color or a specific bird. At the end of the walk, reward your child with a treat.

When you can’t be with your mom or dad, an in-home senior care companion offers the support you and your parent needs. Hire elderly care for a few hours a week or every day, and enjoy knowing you have the freedom to add or remove services as needed.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering in-home senior care in Dothan AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.