Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing Hosts Twitter Chat On Cyber Security

On October 6th, 2016, in honor of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing hosted a Twitter chat (#SrCyberChat), along with partners, AARP Fraud Watch Network (@aarpca) HelloTech (@hellotech), Serving Seniors (@servingseniors), St. Barnabas Senior Services (@SBSSla) to facilitate greater awareness of cyber security issues affecting older adults. 

This chat was part of the Piers Project, funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad By The Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. 

What follows is a transcript of our discussion. Enjoy!

The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing to host Twitter Chat on Cyber Security

The Internet offers us some amazing benefits—we can communicate instantly with loved ones, share priceless moments with friends, quickly pay bills and experience a level of convenience never before available. But with this ever-expanding world of access to information and resources, it’s important to stay educated on how to protect ourselves and our privacy online. 

According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, many of the crimes that occur in real life are now done or facilitated through the Internet. Theft, abuse, and more can now all be done online. Particularly alarming is the fact that many scammers target older adults and prey upon their vulnerability via emails and websites in such forms as charitable donations, dating services, auctions, health care, and prescription medicine. 

Consider these statistics affecting older Americans today:

• 59% of Americans aged 65 and above are reported to use the Internet[i] 
• Only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse are brought to the attention of authorities[ii]
• In 2010, for every incident of violent crime, three incidents of Internet crime were committed against seniors[iii]
• Older adults lost $2.9 billion to financial abuse in 2011[iv]

What is the Piers Project?

Through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing hopes to facilitate greater awareness of cyber security issues affecting older adults. The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad By The Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA.

Who will be participating?

There will be a panel representing several different organizations participating, including cyber security experts and senior service providers. The panel will address key issues/topics of cyber security among the older adult population.

Just a few of our partners that will be joining the conversation are: AARP Fraud Watch  Network (@aarpca) HelloTech  (@hellotech), Serving Seniors (@servingseniors)

St. Barnabas Senior Services (@SBSSla)

Why join and follow the chat live?

To gain more knowledge and share our findings with older adults, senior service providers, and others in the field of aging. The Piers Project initiative is our call to action!

Some sample questions discussed throughout the live chat will be:

Q1 What do you think are some common online/email scams targeting seniors today?

Q2 What makes older adults vulnerable to online fraud? 

Q3 What do you think contributes to the growing number of unreported fraud among older adults?

Q4 What can we do to help seniors avoid fear of using the Internet and promote safe online behavior?

Q5 What are some best practices in online safety that older adults can use to better protect themselves?

Q6 What can organizations serving older adult communities do to help spread awareness of cyber security and elder abuse online?

Q7 What educational resources or tips would you suggest for the preservation of cyber security?

Come prepared for a meaningful dialogue and sharing of ideas, information, tools and helpful tips!

How do you join?

Join @FrontPorchCS and search for #SrCyberChat on Thursday, October 6th from 10-11:00A.M. Pacific Standard Time. For more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month visit https://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month)

[i] Smith, Aaron. “Older Adults and Technology use.” Pew Internet Center, 3 Apr. 2014. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/04/PIP_Seniors-and-Tech-Use_040314.pdf

[ii] Bonnie, Richard J. and Wallace, Robert B. “Elder mistreatment: Abuse, neglect and exploitation in an aging America.” The National Academies Press, 2003. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.nap.edu/read/10406/chapter/1

[iii] Bick, Jonathan. “Internet Crime and the Elderly: Enhanced penalties could prevent online targeting of senior citizens.” New Jersey Law Journal, 1 Aug 2011. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.bicklaw.com/publications/e-elderlaw.htm

[iv] MetLife Mature Market Institute. “MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of occasion, desperation, and predation against America’s Elders.” National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, 2011. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2011/mmi-elder-financial-abuse.pdf 

   

 

Opening Our Eyes to Elder Abuse

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a call for better detection and action

By Emily Gurnon for Next Avenue

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and Next Avenue joins in the effort to shine a light on this pervasive problem.

An estimated 5 million older Americans are abused, neglected or exploited every year, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse. That’s a conservative number, the organization says: for every one case that’s reported, as many as 23 are not.

“Elder mistreatment is a serious public health issue, and merits the same level of response as child abuse or domestic abuse,” says Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., president of The John A. Hartford Foundation and a researcher and authority on elder mistreatment and abuse, in a statement last week.

She urged all of us to increase our vigilance.

“In particular, health care, emergency services, social service, and law enforcement professionals, who are on the front lines, should use every interaction with an older person to screen for possible mistreatment,” she says. “One simple yet powerful way to do this is by asking the question: ‘Are you safe at home?’

That’s especially important with older adults who may be cognitively impaired or rarely outside of the presence of a potential abuser, Fulmer says.

Manifestations of Abuse

Elder abuse comes in many forms, including physical, psychological, financial and sexual abuse.

Last month, Next Avenue published a series on abuse in the guardianship and conservatorship systems, finding that, despite decades of efforts, pernicious patterns have endured.

As the boomer population ages, the numbers of people affected by guardianship and conservatorship will rise tremendously, experts predict. With the stroke of a judge’s pen, an older adult can see his or her most basic rights stripped away. A family member or even a stranger appointed by the court will decide where they will live, how their money will be spent, what health care they will get, when they will go out and whom they are allowed to see.

Educating Ourselves

We urge everyone to learn about elder abuse and know the signs that someone may be being abused.

We also urge the presidential candidates to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and offer their ideas on how to address the disturbing reality many older adults live with every day.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is organized by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.



© Twin Cities Public Television - 2016. All rights reserved.



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Protect Yourself from Health Care Scams

The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, offers helpful tips on how to stay safe online.

The Internet offers an abundance of health information resources that help consumers make more informed choices—it provides us with access to researching health conditions, medications, health services, and the ability to sign up for health plans. However, as it’s the case with many open marketplaces, it’s also important to know how to spot healthcare fraud.

Health care scams come in different forms, such as falsely presented television ads, phone calls, e-mails, or other schemes that claim the need for additional healthcare identification cards due to newly established laws. Questionable service vendors may also lure consumers through the promise of significant discounts on health insurance costs. Other types of scammers may impersonate government officials, requesting Medicare identification numbers from older adults to send updated beneficiary cards. It’s important to always remain cautious and knowledgeable of current events, as scammers often plan to execute their attacks when Medicare and other national health programs undergo changes that are widely discussed throughout the media.

Here are some tips we would like to pass on to you:

- Research to confirm if statements made are actually correct. Prior to sharing your private information, contact Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) to confirm the mentioned changes or requests. Share what you know or have learned with your friends and relatives.

- If you are looking for medical discount plans, keep in mind that they are not a substitute for health insurance. Medical discount plans typically offer coverage for services your insurance would not reimburse. Research further to validate licensure regarding the plan.

• To research the most recent health plans and associated costs, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/health-insurance-plans-estimator-overview/
• To find assistance when shopping for health insurance, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-help-applying/

- Exercise caution when you are shopping for products or services that specifically target older adults such as: health insurance packages, beauty or “anti-aging” products, medications and dietary/vitamin supplements, fitness equipment, medical treatments, therapies, or surgeries.


To learn more about health scams, please be sure to visit The Federal Trade Commission: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0394-suspect-health-care-scam


The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad by the Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address Cyber Security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the Greater San Diego Area.

Front Porch CIW Offers Online Safety Tips

The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, offers helpful tips on how to stay safe online.

Did you know January 25 - 29 is also known as Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week? https://staysafeonline.org/blog/this-years-tax-identity-theft-awareness-week-is-january-25-28/. If you need assistance, AARP provides a free volunteer-based tax aide service for older adults above 50: http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.

To some the Internet may seem to be the ultimate tool to manage finances. You can update accounts through online banking, make credit card purchases, and even manage personal investment funds. Although there are many benefits, it is important to exercise caution to stay safe online. With tax season approaching, we’d like to share a few strategies to successfully complete this yearly process.

-          Be cautious of requests for immediate payments or a specific payment method (i.e. prepaid debit card or cash) for taxes.

-          Legitimate agencies will not ask for your credit or debit card numbers over an email.

-          Download the IRS2Go application onto your smartphone or tablet. You can use this application from IRS to check your refund status, pay taxes, watch tax-related videos and receive tax tips. https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS2GoApp

-          To check how knowledgeable you are regarding this topic, head to this link to take a short quiz! http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-03-2013/can-the-irs-really-do-that.html#quest1

For more helpful tips during tax season, please visit:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5027.pdf

The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad by the Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address Cyber Security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the Greater San Diego Area.

5 Steps to Combat and Prevent Elder Abuse

What a new federal report recommends to curb this scourge

By Liza Kaufman Hogan for Next Avenue

Thinkstock

Not long ago, my aunt, who is in her 80s, was the victim of financial exploitation by an in-home health aide. It started with trips to the drugstore and small loans. Before long, the caregiver was regularly taking my aunt and her credit card to department stores to purchase clothes and other items — not for my aunt.  

Eventually, a clerk noticed what was going on and alerted security and our family. By then, however, my aunt was out hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars. No charges were filed, but the caregiver was dismissed.

According to The Elder Justice Roadmap, a report just released by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, my aunt is one of 5 million Americans affected by some form of elder abuse each year (physical or mental abuse, neglect or financial exploitation). Most families, like ours, don't report such abuses to authorities; only one in 24 do, according to the study.

A Widespread Problem

The Elder Justice Roadmap is intended to help people and organizations recognize, prevent and address the abuse and exploitation of older adults. One in every 10 people over 60 who lives at home suffers some form of abuse, neglect or exploitation, the report says. Those with dementia are far more likely to be abused or neglected by caregivers.

Contrary to popular belief, older adults are more likely to suffer abuse at the hands of their own family members than by a paid caregiver, according to Laura Mosqueda, a geriatrician and director of the National Center on Elder Abuse at University of California Irvine who served on the Elder Justice Roadmap steering committee.

Family caregiver abuse can stem from stress or financial motives. Mosqueda hopes the report will lead to more attention being paid to the factors that can lead to abuse and neglect at home.

"As a provider, I've seen families come in on the cusp of abuse and they are good people," she says. She hopes public awareness of elder abuse will rise to the level where families can get help before it's too late.

5 Steps for Combating and Preventing Abuse

The 40-page report, based on interviews with more than 750 experts and professionals who work with older adults, recommends specific action in five areas:

1. Awareness The report calls for an increase in public awareness of elder abuse — a multi-faceted problem that requires a holistic, well-coordinated response in services, education, policy and research.

2. Brain health It also wants to see more research into brain health, with an enhanced focus on cognitive capacity (and incapacity) and mental health. These are critical factors both for elder abuse victims and for perpetrators.

3. Caregiving There should be better support and training for the tens of millions of paid and unpaid caregivers who play a critical role in preventing elder abuse, the Elder Justice Roadmap says.

4. Economics The authors want to see the costs of elder abuse quantified, particularly because this national problem includes huge fiscal costs to victims, families and society.

5. Resources The report says the nation needs to strategically invest more resources in services, education, research and expanding knowledge in order to reduce elder abuse in America.

How to Recognize Abuse

Beyond its recommendations for the future, the report has already produced immediate benefits. The Department of Justice has created training modules to help attorneys recognize and address potential financial exploitation of older Americans. Also, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is developing a voluntary national adult protective services data system to capture and analyze reports of abuse.

Mosqueda says healthcare providers and social workers need training to recognize the signs of abuse in their patients and clients. "So many age-related changes can mimic or mask signs of elder abuse — a fracture, bruise or pressure sore or burn — a lot of it is missed," she notes.

“Turning the tide against elder abuse requires much greater public commitment, so every American will recognize elder abuse when they see it and know what to do if they encounter it,” said Kathy Greenlee, HHS’ assistant secretary for aging and administrator of the Administration for Community Living, in a statement.

Toward that end, The National Center on Elder Abuse has developed an instructive Red Flags of Abuse Factsheet listing the signs of and risk factors for abuse and neglect.

The Administration on Aging says if you suspect that someone is in immediate danger of being an elder abuse victim, call 911 or contact your local adult protective services agency, which can be found through the National Center on Elder Abuse website or by calling 800-677-1116.

“We must take a stand to ensure that older Americans are safe from harm and neglect,” said Associate Attorney General Tony West in a statement. “For their contributions to our nation, to our society, and to our lives, we owe them nothing less.”

Read the full report here.

Copyright© 2014 Next Avenue, a division of Twin Cities Public Television, Inc.

Front Porch is a not-for-profit support system for a family of companies that serve individuals and families through full-service retirement, active adult communities, and affordable housing communities.

More information is available at www.frontporch.net.