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It started innocently enough. A 79-year-old woman in La Mesa, Calif. first answered an ad in a catalog, which invited readers to call a number for a chance at a $100 prize. Next, she started receiving several magazine subscriptions. By that time, the crooks had her name, her phone number and her address. Letters started arriving, telling her she was eligible to win half a million dollars, although the numbers grew to almost two million in unclaimed prizes.

Of course, to receive the money she had to send fees, which constantly increased. Within two and a half weeks, she lost more than $98,000 and then another $27,500 in a second scheme—taking her life savings, her credit line, her car, her jewelry and her peace of mind.

“When I got into it and lost some money, I had to win it back. I couldn’t face my kids and say I had lost all this money. The more I lost, I just got deeper and deeper in it,” she told the UT San Diego.com. “I have ‘sucker’ written in red letters across my forehead. . . . I’m so embarrassed.”

Seniors lose $35 million each year trying to claim fake prizes, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Scam operators target seniors more than other age groups because they are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home and/or to have excellent credit—all of which make them attractive to con artists. Many who grew up in the 1930s through 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. On top of that trusting nature, older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed or don’t know they have been scammed. Even if the elderly victims do report the crime, they often make poor witnesses, because of memory problems, a fact that con artists exploit (“Common Fraud Schemes,” FBI).

Also, senior citizens are interested in and susceptible to products that promise increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties and so forth.

Ways to Avoid Being Scammed

To avoid ploys to steal your money through prizes and sweepstakes, here are some tips:

• Ask to receive the offer in writing. Legitimate sweepstakes companies will give you written information about how a contest works, and reading it carefully and at your leisure will make the offer more comprehensible.
• Don’t rush a decision. So-called limited time offers should not require an immediate decision. A caller from a legitimate business will not rush you.
• Never pay to play. It’s illegal for a company to require you to buy something or pay a fee in order to win or claim a prize.
• Buying something doesn’t improve your chances of winning. It’s illegal for a company to suggest that your chances will be better if you make a purchase.
• Never give personal information to someone on the phone unless you initiated the call and have confidence in the person or agency receiving the call. Legitimate business callers will not ask you for this information over the phone.
• Don’t give the company money for taxes on your prize. Taxes will be deducted from your winnings or you will pay them directly to the government.
• Don’t pay shipping costs for claiming any prize. If the caller offers a free gift but you first need to pay a handling charge or pay taxes on the prize, that’s a red flag.
• Guard your credit card and bank account numbers. No legitimate sweepstakes company will ask for this information. If you win, your social security number may be required for tax reporting purposes, but you shouldn’t provide that information unless you’re absolutely sure that you entered the contest and you know the company operating it.
• Be on guard for imposters. Some con artists use company names that are identical or very similar to well-known, legitimate sweepstakes operators. Tell them that you’ll get back to them and contact the real companies to ask if there is any connection.
• Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “winnings.” Some scam operators send you a check for part of your winnings, instructing you to deposit it and then wire payment to them for taxes, bonding or some other phony purpose. After you wire the money, your check bounces because it turned out to be an elaborate fake.
• Don’t be fooled by official-looking mail. It’s not necessarily legitimate just because the envelope is marked “urgent” and the contents look impressive. One clue that you haven’t really won is if the letter was sent at bulk mail rates. That means that thousands of other people are also “winners.”
• Be especially cautious about foreign sweepstakes companies. Many fraudulent sweepstakes companies that target U.S. consumers are located in Canada or other countries, which makes it much more difficult for law enforcement agencies to pursue them.

  Other Types of Fraud

  In addition to telemarketing scams, many other types of fraud are often directed against seniors, such as Medicare fraud (see “Medicare Fraud —How to Protect Yourself,” Senior Spirit, April 2012), and bank fraud (see “Keeping Your Bank Account Safe From Fraud,” Senior Spirit, May 2011).

  According to the FTC, nearly 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud each year. According to newspaper reports, senior scam victims in the U.S. hand over at least $2.6 billion to crooks every year, with as many as one in every five seniors losing money.

  Some of the more recent scams are listed below, courtesy of the Savvy Savings Seniors Scam Toolkit (from the National Council on Aging).

  Charity scams: In one case, professional con artists ask the elderly to help the victims of a recent natural disaster by providing credit card information and other personal financial information, including bank account numbers and Social Security numbers. Most states require charities to register with the state, which reports how they use donations.

  Counterfeit drug scams: Some online “pharmacies” advertise cheaper yet “more effective” medications than a reputable pharmacy provides, but when the drugs arrive, they are often useless imitations.

  Magazine subscription scams: Scam artists offer “free” or “special” deals on particular magazines for “dollars a day,” but these subscriptions last for multiple years.

  Jury duty scam: A caller claiming to be a jury coordinator says an arrest warrant has been made against you because you failed to show up for jury duty. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois and Colorado.

  Sources:

  National Consumers League, www.nclnet.org
  National Crime Prevention Council, www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/fraud/senfraud_rev4.pdf
  Milestones e-news, www.pcacares.org/Milestones_Main_Web_Details.aspx?story=563P4G22K38
  South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging, http://aging.sc.gov/legal/Pages/SeniorFraud.aspx
  Scambusters, www.scambusters.org/senior_scam.html

• Tips for Detecting Scams

  New ways to fraudulently part you and your money seem to be springing up every day. The Cincinnati Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently reported that a “Wave of Telemarketing Scams Target Seniors” (Feb. 8, 2013), including pushy telemarketing calls from businesses trying to sell personal emergency alarm systems that guard against a long list of dangers, such as break-ins and medical emergencies. It claims that you can get an alarm system worth several hundred dollars installed for free and you’ll only be charged a monthly fee of about $30. Often these are phishing scams that seek credit card numbers and personal information. The Cincinnati BBB offers tips for detecting scams. Be suspicious if the offer:

  • Tries to create a sense of panic. In this case, the call alarms seniors by describing a situation where they are incapacitated at home and cannot call for help. Also watch out for calls that push for immediate action.
  • Promises something for free . . . that really isn’t. Be wary of “free” offers that ask you to pay a handling fee or other charges.
  • Implies an endorsement from a well-known organization. In this case, the call claims the alarm system is endorsed by the American Heart Association and the “American Diabetic Association,” which is really the American Diabetes Association. Others claim a good Better Business Bureau rating, but this can be checked on BBB.org.
  • Contains errors. Just as scam emails often contain misspellings and grammar errors, fraudulent calls refer to organizations, such as the “Diabetic Association.”
  • Doesn’t have a legitimate mailing address and website.

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Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep
Not sleeping well is more than being uncomfortable. New research is showing poor sleep can affect memory. More than other age groups, seniors need to take measures to make sure they are well rested. Click here to view article.

You’re having a hard time falling asleep at night. What’s the most effective action to take?

• Enjoy a meal before bedtime
• Fall asleep in front of the TV
• Exercise at night

The answer is none of the above. Both eating and exercise will energize your body and TV provides an artificial light source that can suppress your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you sleepy. Computers and backlit portable electronic devices (such as an iPad) cause the same problem. If you want to read before going to bed, use an e-reader that is not backlit or an old-fashioned paper book.

Most studies conclude that seniors need the same amount of sleep—seven to nine hours a night—as the rest of the adult population. However, because seniors experience more disruptions during the night, whether from going to the bathroom, experiencing arthritis pain or being more sensitive to light and noise, you may rarely get a deep, restful sleep.

Health Issues from Lack of Sleep

Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older, according to the National Institute on Aging. Some people have a hard time falling asleep, while others wake up several times during the night, but people with insomnia suffer in both ways.

Many seniors suffer from insomnia, and this lack of sleep can cause memory problems for older individuals. A new research study of 33 participants found that seniors get less deep sleep than the younger generation, which is linked to less reliable memory (“Lighter Sleep May Dull Memory Skills in Seniors,” HealthDay News, Jan. 27, 2013). Findings showed that when compared with younger individuals, seniors were more than 50 percent less able to remember new information after sleeping.

As you age, your body produces lower growth-hormone levels, which means a decrease in slow-wave or deep sleep. Apparently, deep sleep consolidates memories after learning, and without it, we’re more apt to not remember. Because the study entails such a small group, it’s not definitive, and more work will need to be done to solidify the connection between sleep and memory.

Sleep also allows your body to repair daily cell damage and strengthens your immune system (Helpguide). The list of potential ills from not sleeping well is long: depression, attention and memory problems, nighttime falls, more sensitivity to pain and more use of sleeping aids, which should only be used on a short-term basis because they can ultimately contribute to insomnia and increase the risk of serious health issues.

Reasons Why Seniors Don’t Get Enough Sleep

“Insomnia is more common for seniors, partly because of health issues, partly because of the anxiety and the concerns of aging, and sometimes because of medication,” says Jack Gardner, a neurologist certified in sleep medicine at the Sleep Center at Baylor Medical Center in Waxahachie, Texas (quoted in “Do Seniors Need Less Sleep?,” WebMD the Magazine). Pain and sickness can disrupt sleep, as can many health conditions common in older people, such as a frequent urination, arthritis, asthma, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, nighttime heartburn, menopause and Alzheimer’s.

One big problem is sleep apnea, which causes short pauses in breathing while sleeping. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to other problems such as high blood pressure, stroke or memory loss. If you find yourself gasping for air or being told you snore, you should contact your doctor for a sleep apnea check.

Movement disorders also impede sleep. Restless legs syndrome causes feelings of tingling or crawling in one or both legs, while periodic limb movement disorder causes people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder can cause your muscles to move. All three are disruptive to sleep, so check with your doctor to discuss treatment options.

Changes in Sleep Patterns

Older adults are more prone to something called advanced sleep phase syndrome, which causes the body’s internal clock to adjust to earlier bedtimes and wakeup times. Maybe you remember staying up past midnight years ago but now find yourself nodding off on the couch every night by 9 p.m. The best advice from sleep experts is: Don’t fight it, because if you do, you’ll find yourself unable to sleep through the night. One potential aid to help you stay awake later is bright light therapy, which can fool the body into thinking it’s earlier.

In fact, light exposure is a big factor in getting a good night’s sleep. One research study linked light exposure at the wrong times of day to various health problems, including sleep disorders. This is why sleep experts advise turning off the TV and computer at least one hour before bed and using low-wattage bulbs where safe to do so. One study of adults over 65 found that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, possibly due to excessive light exposure.

Medications can also impair sleep because drug combinations or side effects can be stimulating. With your doctor’s help, you might be able to adjust when you take certain medications.

Stress, depression and other psychological disorders can interfere with our ability to sleep, and seniors experience these disorders more than younger adults. Significant life changes such as the death of a loved one or moving from a family home can cause stress. Anxiety or sadness can also keep you awake, which can, in turn, cause more anxiety or depression. Researchers have noted that people without major medical or psychiatric illnesses report better sleep.

There are many ways to improve your sleep (see sidebar). Perhaps one of the most important is getting enough exercise, although not close to bedtime. A study by the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University found that aerobic exercise resulted in the most dramatic improvement in sleep as reported by middle-aged and older adults who had problems with insomnia. Not only did the patients report longer and better quality of sleep, they also reported less depression, more vitality and less sleepiness during the day (“Insomnia in Older Adults: Tips for Sleeping Better as You Age,” Helpguide).

Sources:

National Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/insomnia-and-sleep
National Institute on Aging, www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/good-nights-sleep
HealthDay News, MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_133479.html
Caring.com, www.caring.com/articles/exercise-and-sleep
WebMD, www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/do-seniors-need-less-sleep
Helpguide.org, www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_aging.htm

Tips for Improving Sleep

• Get more sunlight. Daylight helps promote the sleep/wake cycle by regulating melatonin, the hormone that makes you sleepy. Experts recommend at least two hours of sunlight daily, including keeping curtains open during the day and sitting near windows.
• Limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, especially near bedtime. As stimulants, they will interfere with your quality of sleep.
• Avoid artificial lights, such as TV and computers, at night. Such light can suppress your body’s production of melatonin. Use low-wattage bulbs if possible.
• Create a calm environment for sleeping—one that is dark and quiet. If needed, consider a bedside fan or white-noise machine to block out loud sounds.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same times every day, even on weekends.
• Relax before bedtime. Take a bath, read (though preferably not in bed) or listen to music. Stress management techniques, such as deep breathing, can help you relax.
• Avoid long naps, particularly in the late afternoon or evening.
• Keep a sleep diary to identify your sleep habits and patterns, which you can share with your doctor.
• Do not eat or drink, especially rich or spicy foods, too close to bedtime.

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Natalie Morales runs half-marathon to lend VOICE to Alzheimer’s

http://allday.today.com/_news/2013/03/18/17358075-to-help-fight-alzheimers-natalie-morales-runs-nyc-half-marathon?lite

“Today Show” anchor and Alzheimer’s Champion Natalie Morales didn’t spend St. Patrick’s Day celebrating. She was too busy running in New York City’s half-marathon as a way to spotlight the Alzheimer’s movement. Morales’ mother-in-law has the disease.
Read the article >>

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FDA plans to change rules on approving Alzheimer’s drugs

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/health/fda-to-ease-alzheimers-drug-approval-rules.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a proposal for public comment containing changes to its rules for approving new drugs for Alzheimer’s. The proposed changes reflect the trend in the Alzheimer’s field toward testing drugs earlier in the course of the disease. Under the new proposal, drugs in Alzheimer’s clinical trials might qualify for approval if people improved their performance on memory or reasoning tests but not necessarily tests of everyday activities.
Read the article >>

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http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_facts_and_figures_report.asp?WT.mc_id=enews2013_03_20

Report: 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 1 in 3 three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in the United States. The new report shows that while deaths from other major diseases such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer’s deaths continue to rise — increasing 68 percent from 2000 to 2010.
Learn more about 2013 Facts and Figures >>
Read the article >>

New Alzheimer’s Association report reveals 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report released today, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in the United States. The new report shows that while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke, continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer’s deaths continue to rise — increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010.

“Unfortunately, today there are no Alzheimer’s survivors. If you have Alzheimer’s disease, you either die from it or die with it,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Now we know that 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Urgent, meaningful action is necessary, particularly as more and more people age into greater risk for developing a disease that today has no cure and no way to slow or stop its progression.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and is the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. Based on 2010 data, Alzheimer’s was reported as the underlying cause of death for 83,494 individuals — individuals who died from Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Facts and Figures reveals that in 2013 an estimated 450,000 people in the United States will die with Alzheimer’s. The true number of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s is likely to be somewhere between the officially reported number of those dying from and those dying with Alzheimer’s. 

According to Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Facts and Figures, a recent study evaluated the contribution of individual common diseases to death using a nationally representative sample of older adults and found that dementia was the second largest contributor to death behind heart failure. Among 70-year-olds with Alzheimer’s disease, 61 percent are expected to die within a decade. Among 70-year-olds without Alzheimer’s, only 30 percent will die within a decade.

Human and Financial Toll of Alzheimer’s

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Without the development of medical breakthroughs that prevent, slow or stop the disease, by 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease could reach 13.8 million. Previous estimates suggest that number could be high as 16 million.

Alzheimer’s and dementia place an enormous burden on individuals and families. In 2012, there were more than 15 million caregivers who provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion. Individuals with dementia often require increasing levels of supervision and personal care as the disease progresses. As symptoms exacerbate as the disease progresses, the care required of family members and friends can often result in increased emotional stress and health challenges for caregivers. Due to the physical and emotional toll of caregiving, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers had $9.1 billion in additional health care costs of their own in 2012.

The burden on the nation’s health care system and government programs is also enormous. According to Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Facts and Figures, the total payments for health and long-term care services for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will total $203 billion in 2013, the lion’s share of which will be borne by Medicare and Medicaid with combined costs of $142 billion. Despite these staggering figures today, by 2050 total costs will increase 500 percent to $1.2 trillion.

2013 Health and Long-Term Care Services Breakdown

Medicare
$107 billion
53%

Medicaid
$35 billion
17% 

Out-of-Pocket Costs
$34 billion
17% 

Other Sources
(HMO, Private Insurance,
Managed Care Organizations and Uncompensated Care)
$27 billion
13% 

Total
$203 billion

“Alzheimer’s disease steals everything – steadily, relentlessly, inevitably. With baby boomers reaching the age of elevated risk, we do not have time to do what we have always done,” said Robert Egge, vice president of public policy for the Alzheimer’s Association. “The National Institutes of Health needs to reset its priorities and focus its resources on the crisis at our doorstep, and Congress must fully fund implementation of the National Alzheimer’s Plan to solve the crisis.”

Special Focus on the Long-Distance Caregiving Experience

2013 Facts and Figures also explores the challenges faced by long-distance caregivers for people living with Alzheimer’s. The report finds that nearly 15 percent of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia are “long-distance caregivers” — caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease who live at least 1 hour away. These long-distance caregivers had annual out-of-pocket expenses nearly twice as high as local caregivers — $9,654 compared to $5,055. 

“The difficulties of Alzheimer’s and dementia are significant for all caregivers, but individuals who live a substantial distance from their loved ones face unique hardships,” said Beth Kallmyer, MSW, vice president of constituent services for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Long-distance caregivers have nearly double the out-of-pocket expenses of local caregivers, experience greater challenges assessing the care recipient’s conditions and needs, report more difficulty communicating with health care providers and often have higher levels of psychological distress and family discord in their caregiving experience.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of educational and support resources, including its 24/7, toll-free Helpline (1.800.272.3900), care consultation and online resources to assist families with the care management of someone living with Alzheimer’s regardless of geography. ALZConnected™, powered by the Alzheimer’s Association, is a social networking community for people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and others affected by the disease to share questions and form new connections. Users can tap into a diverse community through the site’s message boards and create private groups organized around specific topics.

Alzheimer’s Navigator™ is a tool designed to help individuals with the disease, caregivers and family members evaluate their needs and develop a customized action plan that provides information, support and resources. Alzheimer’s Navigator works in conjunction with Community Resource Finder, a comprehensive database of housing and care options, programs and services, and legal experts, allowing users to quickly search, find and access support. Users can also create and manage care teams so that multiple people can access and participate in the customized action plan.

The full text of the Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures can be viewed at www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp. The full report will also appear in the March 2013 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association (Volume 9, Issue 2).

Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

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