Try: Cg should be suspicious of financial abuse if he notices cr is accompanied by a stranger family member or other person who seems to manipulate the cr into making decisions or transactions cr is being evicted or utilities are being disconnected cr is concerned or confused about missing funds in his accounts cr is fearful that he will be evicted or institutionalized if money is not given to him caregiver cr is giving odd explanations about what he is doing with his her money cr is missing documents such as those related to pensions stock government payments etc cr is not allowed to speak for him or to make decisions cr is not aware of or does not understand recently completed financial transactions cr is not cared for or the home is not tidy clean when arrangements have been made for providing personal care or home maintenance services cr seems paranoid and or accuses employees of taking or mismanaging his money cr’s mail has been forwarded to a different address

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from financial abuse of the elderly risk factors screening techniques and remedies by lori a stiegel 2002 bifocal vol 23 no 4 summer issue 2002

Keywords: Finances legal abuse hoarding

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Never send cash or coins in the mail use checks or money orders remove mail from the mailbox as soon as it is delivered especially if checks credit cards or other important financial

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: Is expected if the cr won’t be home when the items are expected ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up the cr’s mail have the local post office hold the cr’s mail when the cr is on vacation or away from home for a long time if the cr doesn’t receive a check or other valuable mail he she is expecting contact the business and ask if it has been mailed out yet if the cr moves immediately notify the post office and any organization the cr does business with like banks investment firms and attorneys always put mail to be delivered in a mail slot at the local post office or hand it to the mail carrier consider starting a neighborhood watch program exchange work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors and watch each other other’s mailboxes as well as homes if the cr sees a mail thief at work or at home call the local police immediately and then call the u s postal inspection service at 877-876-2455 information

References: U s postal inspection service how to protect against thieves available at

Keywords: Mail mail theft finances money credit cards investing attorney lawyer crime

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Copy of birth certificate preferable certified social security card medicare card if any health and dental insurance card s income tax returns marriage license divorce decree auto vehicle insurance card power of attorney the will living will healthcare directive attorney – list name address and phone bank

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: – name of bank address phone; account numbers and access codes as appropriate to power of attorney and executor responsibilities ira pension all retirement fund information financial advisor – list name address and phone accountant – if different from financial advisor insurance agent – list name address and phone list of all medical conditions doctor information – make a list of all doctors with names addresses and phones indicate who specifically is treating the conditions listed privacy release form – gives loved ones permission to discuss medical information with the cr’s doctors this form can be obtained from a doctor complete it and file it with each doctor’s office list of medications – include daily or weekly dosage which doctor prescribed it and which pharmacy prescription for eyeglasses or corrective lenses name of eye doctor etc list of allergies – include food medicine other copies of life insurance policies copies of long-term care insurance policies copies of actual health and dental insurance policies outlining coverage and parameters copies of homeowners insurance policies copies of auto and vehicle insurance policies any other insurance information employer information if the cr is working business information if the cr owns or is a partner in a business military discharge citizenship documents information on all sources of income list of credit cards contact information and amount owed list of all debts contact information and amounts owed information

References: A adapted from estate planning checklist from elder-one-stop com

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Divide the social security benefits received by 2 add the wages amount reported on the w-2 form provided by the cr’s employer add other taxable income such as pensions interest dividends etc this amount is the cr’s total provisional income determine the cr’s filing status single head of household married filing separately married filing jointly or qualifying widow er locate the base amount and additional amount for the cr’s filing status if the cr’s total provisional income is below the base amount for the cr’s filing status then social security benefits are not taxed if the cr’s total provisional income falls between the base amount and additional amount then half of the cr’s social security benefits are taxed if the cr’s total provisional income is above the additional amount then 85 of the cr’s social security benefits are taxed use worksheet a in irs publication 915 as a quick and easy way to see if any part of the cr’s social security benefits may be taxable

Materials: Calculator note pad and pen internet access

Categories: Financial, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: A adapted from the internal revenue service www irs gov publication 915

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Look for signs that the business is legitimate buy from stores and sellers that have a good reputation find out what other shoppers say sites like epinions com or bizrate have customer evaluations which can help determine if a company is legitimate look for seals of approval companies can put these seals on their sites if they follow a set of high standards such as how personal

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Personal, Social

Information: Can be used two seals to look for are the better business bureau bbb online and truste click on these logos to make sure they go to the organization that created them on the web page where credit card or other personal information is entered look for an s after http in the web address of that page make sure there is a tiny closed padlock in the address bar or on the lower right corner of the window pay attention to warning messages given by the internet browser internet explorer 7 or 8 if a window pops up on the screen warning of a possible unsecure web site follow the instructions to leave the web site keep web browser updated information

References: A adapted from microsoft online safety from microsoft com

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If an internet web site asks for your email address do not provide it email addresses can be legally sold to companies that are involved in internet scams identity thieves contact people by email and ask for money or send an email with links to web sites that allow them to access all files on a computer don’t respond to text messages or emails that appear to be sent from a company that you have done business with don’t provide any personal

Materials: Paper shredder lock box

Categories: Financial

Information: Social security number date of birth address etc by email text message or over the phone buy a shredder and shred all credit card applications and catalog order forms received in the mail when moving to a new home keep everything that lists any financial information – files tax archives bills bank statements check books credit cards etc – in a lock box on move day know the location of the box at all times to ensure the safety of sensitive personal information if the cr passes away the care giver cg should notify the social security administration ssa at 800-722-1213 the ssa maintains a master file that is used by all the credit reporting agencies credit reports from the agencies are used by lenders to evaluate loan applications make sure that a trusted family member or friend knows how to access all of the cr’s email and online accounts so they can be accessed or terminated information

References: A adapted from www helpnetsecurity org – tips for seniors on how to avoid id theft

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Divide the social security benefits received by 2 add the wages amount reported on the w-2 form provided by the cr’s employer add other taxable income such as pensions interest dividends etc this amount is the cr’s total provisional income determine the cr’s filing status single head of household married filing separately married filing jointly or qualifying widow er locate the base amount and additional amount for the cr’s filing status if the cr’s total provisional income is below the base amount for the cr’s filing status then social security benefits are not taxed if the cr’s total provisional income falls between the base amount and additional amount then half of the cr’s social security benefits are taxed if the cr’s total provisional income is above the additional amount then 85 of the cr’s social security benefits are taxed use worksheet a in the irs publication 915 as a quick and easy way to see if any part of the cr’s social security benefits may be taxable

Materials: Calculator pen internet access

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: A adapted from publication 915 from the internal revenue service irs gov

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: # don’t give an email address if asked to by a web site email addresses can be legally sold to companies that are involved in phishing scams these identity thieves contact people by email and ask for money or send an email with links to websites that allow them to access all files on a computer # don’t respond to text messages or emails that appear to be sent from a company the cr has done business with # don’t provide any personal

Materials: # paper shredder # lock box

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal, Personal

Information: Social security number date of birth address etc by email text message or over the phone # buy a shredder and shred all credit card applications and catalog order forms received in the mail # when moving to a new home keep everything that lists any financial information – files tax archives bills bank statements check books credit cards etc – in a lock box on move day know the location of that box at all times to ensure the safety of sensitive personal information # if the cr becomes sick or dies contact the social security administration ssa of the death at 800-722-1213 the ssa maintains a master file that is used by all the credit reporting agencies before issuing credit make sure that a trusted family member or friend knows how to access the cr’s email and online accounts so that they can be accessed or terminated information

References: Adapted from tips for seniors on how to avoid id theft from helpnetsecurity org

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: # buy a three ring binder and label it expenses # make a list of all bills # make a list of all income sources medicare retirement investments etc # keep all bills income sources checkbook postage and envelopes in the record keeping binder # keep a calculator in the pocked of the binder # place all mail that is financial in this binder as it arrives # schedule times each day for cr and caregiver to do record keeping activities

Materials: # three ring binder # calculator # pen pencil paper # postage envelops # check book

Categories: Financial

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: # keep insurance

Materials: # folder # pen pencil paper # postage envelopes

Categories: Financial

Information: Together in a folder or envelope properly labeled so the cr can easily find it among other material # decide on a secure place to keep the folder # assist the cr with making a list of all insurance coverage # go through all of the policies and answer any questions the cr may have # make notes of complicated information and break it into smaller simple sentences so the cr understands the information # go through insurance mail with the cr and explain the information to the cr before filing it in the folder envelope # discard old information as new cards policies are received so that the folder is kept up to dare # explain any changes that occur with new insurance information # set aside a regular time to sit down with the cr and assist him or her with paying insurance bills # consider preparing several addressed and stamped envelopes in advance # make a list of insurance contact information and keep it in the folder # keep contact information updated information

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed