Fishing in the high country of Colorado is a great experience; throw out a line with enticing bait, hook a fish, and reel it in!

    ‘Phishing’ is when crooks do the same…only with people as the target. These con artists make phone calls, or send an E-mail or piece of ‘hard’ mail, dangle bait, hope the hook catches, and then reel in a victim.

    So what is the bait that hooks people? It may be the hope of winning a lottery or sweepstakes. It may be a message of fear: you’ve missed Jury Duty or your car warranty is out-of-date or a grandchild has experienced an emergency and needs money wired immediately. It may be the promise of a special vacation, gift certificates, or some other offer that requires an immediate response; the crook hopes you react NOW and think later.

    When I’m fishing for real fish, I change the lure when I believe the fish have become alerted to my efforts. Crooks will change the bait occasionally as well; especially if a particular scheme seems to be gaining attention and people are becoming alert to it. But ‘Phishing’ will not stop! Unfortunately, it works. With poor economic conditions, ‘Phishing’ may become more effective. Let’s talk about general protective hints regardless of the bait:

• If it’s too good to be true…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If the offer is ‘Something for virtually nothing,’…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If it raised the need, particularly an emergency need, for money to be wired or a Money Order sent…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If personal information, such as your bank account number, a credit card account number & security code, or Social Security number are needed to complete the deal…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If you need to respond immediately for the deal to occur or the transaction needs to be ‘Kept Secret’…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• – No legitimate business or government agency will contact you by phone to conduct business or solve a problem;
  – Invest in ‘Caller ID’ and only answer calls from known phone numbers;
  – When an offer is made by phone, take a moment to allow adrenaline to subside; then find a manner of ‘checking it out’ before you act.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado
To report fraud, ask a question, or schedule a ‘Power Against Fraud’ seminar, call: 303-271-6980

1. Choosing An Assisted Living Facility

2. If Care is Needed at Home

3. Caregiving from a Distance

4. Advocating for a Family Member

5. Choosing an Adult Day Service

6. Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease

Where do you go? Who do you turn to?

That’s why it’s nice to find resources in your parent’s community.

We’ve focused on senior care in the Colorado area for over 10 years now. We understand how important it is to have a trusted partner as you face the coming months. We also realize how important it is to have technology in place that allows you to find and connect with resources, no matter how far away you live.

As with most states, you have a variety of options available to you.

If its important to your parents that they remain in their home, in-home care may be your option. In-home care provides anywhere from 1 to 24 hour care every day of the week, depending on your level of needs.

If you need more skilled nursing care for a health concern like Alzheimers, there are many specialized care facilities with specific skills. Look for a place where both you and your parent will be comfortable.

Once you find an option that’s right for you, use them as a resource. Because they are local, they should be able to help you with any issue that arises.   

In a discussion about ID theft, consumers must understand that we are dependent upon the good faith effort of businesses to carefully monitor their employees and ‘business as usual’ practices. Most are overly responsive, installing safeguards to protect sensitive client information. Since, however, there are situations beyond our control, every consumer needs to do what they can do to guard and insulate their safety.

• Subscribe to the Colorado ‘No Call’ list: www.coloradonocall.com or 303-776-2678;
• Stop Pre-Approved Credit Card Applications from coming in the mail: www.optoutprescreen.com or 1-888-567-8688;
• Stop ‘Convenience Checks’: Call the ‘800’ number on the back of your credit card. State: “I’d like to OPT OUT of your marketing programs.”;
• Place a ‘Security Freeze’ with the credit reporting agencies (call our office for a flyer outlining how to do so—303-271-6970);
• Order your free credit reports and check them carefully: Go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call the credit reporting agency;
• Reduce the checks you write each month. Use automatic ‘Bill Pay,’ phone bill pay, or contact your local bank for assistance;
• As far as possible, keep your eye on your credit card;
• Remove everything from your purse/wallet containing your Social Security number: Social Security card; Military ID card; Medicare card; and get a new Colorado Driver’s License if it’s on your current license.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado
To report fraud, ask a question, or schedule a ‘Power Against Fraud’ seminar, call: 303-271-6980

What do you do know? 

What’s going to happen next?

What types of medications exist, and what can they do?

In answer to the latter question, KnowItAll has a great resource for understanding the different types of medicines available for people with Alzheimer’s.

Put together a list of all insurance policies. Include companies, agent’s information, policy numbers and details. Ask about health, life, long term care, long term disability, home and car insurance.

Put together a list of all bank related information. Where does she have accounts, bank account numbers, detailed information, and where she keeps her safety deposit boxes.

Put together a file of important paper work. Include Wills, Veteran’s Administration paperwork, stocks, bonds, property deeds, mortgages, power of attorneys, car titles.

Now’s the time to initiate items that may be insufficient. Talk about updating wills, creating power of attorneys, and beliefs and wishes concerning living wills. 

List major assets. Jewelry, artwork, and other valuables will have more meaning if you understand the history behind it, and know its true value.

photo source Wade From Oklahoma

In the case of reverse mortgages, they are still a viable option for some seniors that own their home, yet find themselves running short of cash each month. 

According to the Senior Journal, the very nature of reverse mortgages doesn’t put them in the same category as traditional mortgages. Because you are getting the equity that has already been built up in your home, the new rules in the mortgage industry don’t apply in the same ways. If you have a larger, high valued home, you may be limited to the amount of reverse mortgage you can take. But in most cases, it still may be a solution for you. Check with your mortgage representative for more information.

2. Organize the closets. Put summer items into storage, and bring out the winter items. An in-home care giver can help your loved one clean and organize the home, and talk about the memories along the way.

3. Make appointments for yearly checkups, and get flu vaccinations, shingles vaccinations, etc. Elderly may need several visits with the doctors to get it all in. An in-home care specialist can get her there to every appointment, and organize the appointments as necessary.

4. The holidays are coming. An in-home caregiver can set up holiday arrangements, bring your loved one to lunches and get togethers, and help shop for holiday presents and functions.

5. School’s in session. If you’re busy getting the kids to school events, soccer games, and birthday sleepovers, an in-home caregiver can help you manage your parents activities and daily habits. From fixing light meals, to organizing daily medication, stop worrying about the status of your parents.

6. Time out. Are you spending 24 hours of the day worrying and caring for your loved one? It’s time for you to take time out for yourself. Even just a couple hours a week can give you the break you need. An in-home caregiver will give you peace of mind while you’re away.

7. Keep the memories. As we move into the holidays, memories of the past come flooding in. An in-home caregiver can help your loved one set up for the holidays, create scrapbooks with old photos and keepsakes, and maybe organize a lunch or two with old friends.

Staying happy and healthy is important for the both of you. Giving yourself just a few extra hours a week can give you both a new outlook on life. What are you waiting for? Contact an in-home caregiver today.

I found an interesting site today that’s filled with information on planning for your retirement, Financing Retirement. It covers a full spectrum of topics - things that most people don’t start considering until its too late.

If you’ve been taking care of your parents or other loved one for awhile now, you know the heartache that can come  when you can no longer achieve some of the items on your list of to-do’s. It’s important to plan as far out into the future as possible.

And as we’re learning from many of today’s large companies that are declaring bankruptcy or just shutting down, it’s important to not put all of your finances in one place.

Start your savings process as early as possible. Don’t rely on one company or government sponsored retirement plan. Don’t assume investment strategies are too confusing - you can learn something new that will greatly benefit you. [Learn more at Financing Retirement.]

If we can learn one thing by being the sandwich generation, it’s preparing for the future, and enjoying it while we can.

In many cases it’s hard to determine if you yourself are depressed. But thanks to many online sources, you can start the process of gaining help with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Depression Screening is a site where you can learn more about depression, and take depression screening test. While this isn’t a full diagnosis, it can make you aware of some of your symptoms, and begin to point you in the direction of help.