This time of the year, many seniors are particularly vulnerable to elder abuse and scam artists who prey on our senior citizens. Citizens are encouraged to report elder abuse immediately. If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse please call your local police department.
The following examples highlight scams regularly perpetrated against senior citizens. You are encouraged to share examples with all the senior citizens you know.
The Grandparent Scam - There are several versions of the "Grandparent" scam. In the most common version the victim will receive a call from an unknown person who will immediately say "Grandma" or "Grandpa" after the victim answers the phone. The victim will reply, "Johnny" or Janie" (the name of their grandson or granddaughter). The caller will reply, "Yes it's your Grandson Johnny." The caller will explain they are in trouble while visiting another country. The most common countries are Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain. The caller will claim to have been arrested and/or in jail, involved in a vehicle accident or experiencing a medical emergency and they need money wired to them urgently. The caller will ask the victim not to contact other family members because they are embarrassed. The caller will ask for the money to be wired in the name of an unknown third-party. The amount to be wired can vary from $500.00 to $50,000.00. The largest amount wired from San Diego to China was $130,000.00. The caller said he needed emergency surgery. The hospital would not perform the procedure without a "bond" to cover the expense since the imposter did not have medical insurance in China.
What can I do? The victims in these scams have all sworn the caller sounded just like their loved one. The first thing you should do after receiving such a call is make a telephone call to a "good" phone number you have for your grandson or granddaughter. If you cannot reach them call your grandson or granddaughter's parents to confirm they are indeed out of the country before you wire any money. Once the money has been wired and received, the money is gone!
The "International Lottery" Scam - Another common telephone scam is the "International Lottery" scam. The caller will inform the victim they have won a substantial amount of money from the lottery of Jamaica or Canada. The victim will be instructed to wire money to cover the "taxes" associated with the prize. The amount can range from $1,500.00 to $15,000.00. Usually the prize is worth anywhere from one to four million dollars. If money is sent, the victim will begin receiving multiple calls asking for more money to be sent to cover additional taxes, fees, and/or insurance. In reality, the victim has not won any prize and will never see any of their "winnings". And just as the "grandparent" scam;
Once the money is wired and received, it's gone!
What can I do? Before you send any money remember this, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." Also, did you know it is against federal law to participate in an international lottery? The reason, the Federal Trade Commission says most foreign lotteries are likely to be scams and U.S. citizens send an estimated $120 million a year to foreign countries on the prospect of obtaining instant wealth. Scammers have turned to the telephone because federal law enforcement officials intercept and destroy millions of foreign lottery mailings every year.
Home Improvement Scams - There are several versions of the "home improvement" scam. An unknown and unsolicited building contractor / handyman will come to the victim's door soliciting for work. In the most common version, this unknown person will explain they are working on a neighbor's home and they ordered too much product for the job. They will also explain that he cannot return the materials, so they will offer to re-roof, paint, or fix cracks in the driveway of the victim's home at a substantial savings. The catch, the victim has to pay in cash. The amount can range from $500.00 to $5,000.00. The work on the victim's home will look professional at first glance, but it will turn out to be substandard and it usually ends up costing the victim a substantial amount of money to repair.
The purpose of the scam is not to perform substandard work for an inflated expense. The purpose this scam is to steal cash, jewelry, or any other property from inside the victim's home. The victim's home will be burglarized while they are distracted by the workers.
What can I do? Do not allow unsolicited workers into your home. If someone is soliciting work in your neighborhood, make an appointment for them to return on another day to give you time to check the credentials of business. Check their rating on the "Better Business Bureau" for example.
Vehicle Repair Scams - There are several versions of this scam. In the most common version the victim will be approached by an unknown person after the victim parks their vehicle, usually in a mini-mall. In some cases the victim was followed home. The unknown person will tell victim they are a mechanic and noticed an unusual amount smoke coming from the rear of the victim's vehicle. The "mechanic" will ask the victim to open the hood so they can take a look at the engine. The "mechanic" will then pull the "O2" sensor or another small component that will disable the vehicle, not allowing it to start. The "mechanic" will now ask the victim to start their car. The "mechanic" will offer to fix the car for less money than a shop or dealership. The amount can range from $300.00 to $500.00. Why, because this is usually within the amount a person can withdraw from an ATM. The "mechanic" will offer to go to a parts store that is around the corner, pay for the part and replace the defective part. In reality, the "mechanic" will leave for twenty-minutes and return with the same part, re-install it and the victim's vehicle starts no problem.
What can I do? Thank the "mechanic" for their concern, but you would rather call a tow truck or relative to assist you. Start to call someone you trust to come help you. Once you start to introduce someone else into the situation the "mechanic" will walk away. Remember, do not open your hood or let this unknown person in your vehicle. If you become afraid, call 9-1-1 to have an officer respond. The police would like to talk to this person and document who they are.
The Immigrant Scam - This scam usually targets Spanish speaking women. The victim will be approached in a public area, commonly a clothing store by a Hispanic female. The female will claim to be an immigrant from the interior of Mexico. She will tell the victim a sad story about how she came to the United States looking for work. She lived with an American family as a housekeeper and the family mistreated her. She ran away because of the abuse and wants to return to Mexico, but does not have enough money.
She will show the victim a bar of gold, or a bar of silver, or a diamond she took from the American family to sell in an effort to return to Mexico. An unknown male will introduce himself during the story and say he "could not help but over hear" their conversation and offer to help. The male will explain that he has a friend who works at a jewelry store and he'll offer to take the gold, silver, or diamond to have it appraised. The male will return and tell the victim the item is worth thousands of dollars and talk the victim into buying the item for a profit from the female. In the end the victim gives the female $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 for the bar of gold, or silver or the diamond and then cannot find the unknown male to sell the item for profit. As for the bar of gold, silver or diamond, it's fake, usually a painted lead paperweight or Cubic Zirconia gem and not worth $100.00.
What do I do? Offer to refer the female to a church or other service for assistance. But, do not engage in a business deal with unknown people you've just met.
Remember - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
country's elder abuse cases involve a family member, not shady "mortgage professionals." The column indicates that sons are most likely to scam their parents or grandparents, more so than a fraudulent contractor/handyman or paramour.
0 years old or older has tripled in the past three decades to 2 million. The number is projected to quadruple by 2050.
Republicans and Democrats alike are seeking votes from senior citizens. Seniors are more consistent and reliable as voters, and their population is surging. Compared to 2008, they now make up at least 23% of the voting population as of 2010--a 16% increase.
Why is this allowed to happen? Why are these patients caregivers not providing the type of care and treatment that these patients are entitled to receive. Most often, it is because these patients are neglected. Don't put up with this neglect. 
Pressure sores can be prevented by keeping a patient's skin clean and dry, changing a patients position and using pillows and products that relieve pressure upon the skin.
As I have reported in the past, falls for the elderly are all too common and often times lead to their confinement to bed rest. Some reports indicate that 25% of those suffering injuries from a fall die within six months to a year of suffering injury. Falls commonly cause hip fractures and head injuries. Falls can be prevented.
All too often, elders suffers needless falls as a result of the failure to provide them with the assistance that that need and desire. We hear story after story of elders who have fallen because they were not being helped. These falls lead to hip fractures which create a downward spiral. The bones of older patients take longer to heal and the surgeries that are required to repair hip fractures are very trying. 
Many of our elders have received the DePuy hip replacements in the hope of continuing active lifestyles.
When children are born, they are completely dependent upon their parents and caregivers for every basic need of life. Food, drink, clothing, changing, all aspects of human existence. As they grow, their need for care lessons, but, it is after much time and much effort and commitment by those providing the care. There is also much love and nurture that is shared with our infants. This early care, love and affection is so similar to what is needed by our elders as they enter the last stages of their life with us. So often, this is forgotten and so often our elders are looked upon with so much less respect and value as our infants. No less care, love and affection is needed, however, for our elders.
So often those abused and neglected enter into a sense of loneliness and emptiness when their dignity has been taken from them. The pain of the loss of dignity is great. Protecting the elder and their dignity is of great importance. The elder have so much to share and so much to give. 
omes on regularly is very important. So often, it is the unannounced visit or the visit that comes an an irregular times that helps determine the type of care that loved ones are receiving. It is so important to be involved in the care of loved ones at Nursing Home Facilities. Take the time and be involved.
Kevin Coluccio is a partner and trial lawyer at Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Coluccio, a leading plaintiff personal injury and wrongful...
