Today we attended an informative Town Hall conference call with DORA, where the focus was “Senior Financial Abuse”.  We learned some very interesting things you might find useful.

If you suspect a senior, age 70 and up, is being exploited, a change in spending habits is a big red flag. Some other red flags include: Using the adult’s home to sell drugs, missing pain medications, and checks made to cash and/or numerous unpaid bills.

Exploitation occurs when a person uses deception, harassment, intimidation, or undue influence to permanently or temporarily deprive an elder of the use, benefit or possession of their money, assets, property, or any other thing of value. You just need reasonable suspicion of abuse to report it to the victim’s local law enforcement.  There is no liability to you to report, even if it is unfounded.

Did you know that on July 1, 2014 Colorado began a new law for mandatory reporting of abuse or exploitation of at-risk elders (C.R.S. 18-6.5-108)?  Follow this link to find a list of mandatory reporters, and how to report abuse: https://www.coloradoaps.com/about-mandatory-reporting.html

If you are a mandatory reporter and you witness or become aware that an at-risk elder or at-risk adult with IDD has been or is at imminent risk for mistreatment (abuse, caretaker neglect, or exploitation), you must make a report to law enforcement within 24 hours of witnessing or becoming aware of the mistreatment. Failing to report can lead to criminal charges.

Also, there are scams out there that many elders get caught in, click or copy and paste each link for an explanation of the scams.

The Lottery Scam: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/sweepstakes.html

 The Grandparent Scam: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grandparent-scam-explained-by-former-scammer-what-you-need-to-know/ 

The Jury Duty Scam: https://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/fraud-center/common-scams/jury-duty-scams.html

Please be aware of the red flags you see in the elder you know, or if you witness any abuse of an elder.  Be sure to report it even if you are not a mandatory reporter.

Ascent Mobility strives to help people stay in their homes and keep them safe. We hope you found this to be as informative as we did.

Have a Great Day!!!