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Personal & Home Safety

Seniors Safety

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Banking
A number of tactics are used by criminals to steal money from seniors. These include investment scams, purse/wallet snatching, robbing mail boxes, breaking and entering and impersonating financial officers.

Preventive Tips

1. Direct Deposit

Consider having payments you receive on a regular basis such as pension cheques and dividends deposited directly to your account. Not only is this more convenient, as you do not have to make a special trip to the bank, your money also starts earning interest immediately. Many criminals, including con artists, are aware that seniors receive their pension cheques at the end of the month and direct deposits are a good crime prevention technique.

2. Safety Deposit Boxes

Consider storing stocks, bonds, jewelry and other valuables in a safety deposit box. Not only will your valuables be safer but they will also be together in one convenient location so you will always know their exact whereabouts.

3. Monthly bills

Pay monthly bills such as telephone and hydro at a financial institution.

4. Cheques and Money Orders

Do not carry large amounts of cash - if you need to carry large amounts consider using bank drafts, money orders or cheques.

5. Traveler's Cheques

Use traveler's cheques when vacationing. They are usually easily negotiable at hotels, restaurants and financial institutions and can usually be replaced within 24 hours if they are lost or stolen.

6. Credit Cards

Always sign a new credit card when you receive it. Always destroy old cards. Never provide anyone with your credit card number unless you initiate the transaction, i.e. a telephone purchase.

Elder Abuse
Most of Canada's elderly enjoy strong, healthy ties with their families, friends and caregivers. But a significant number of older adults are not happy or safe, and are being victimized in their homes by family members, informal caregivers, friends and landlords.

Elder abuse falls into three categories:

1. Physical Abuse

Inflicting pain or discomfort by physical assault, rough handling, restraint, coercion, sexual molestation, and under-or-over medication.

2. Psychological Abuse

Inflicting anguish by insulting, humiliating, intimidating, infantilizing, ignoring, frightening, isolating, removing decision making powers, withholding love and denying access to grandchildren.

3. Material Property Abuse

Illegal or unethical exploitation of funds, assets or property belonging to an older person , such as coercing them to sign over power of attorney or stealing from an older person in care facilities.

Neglect is also considered abuse. Neglect can vary from active neglect such as denial of necessities such as food and health care to passive neglect, such as failure to give proper care because of ignorance and imfirmity.

Preventive Tips

  1. Participate in social activities as much as possible with friends as well as with family members.
  2. Maintain independence and self-sufficiency for as long as possible.
  3. Prepare and revise your will before beginning your retirement years - preferably with the help of a lawyer.
  4. It is unwise to bequeath a house or other possessions to a relative on the strength of a relative's promise to "look after you".
  5. Seniors can be vulnerable to abuse if they have little knowledge or understanding of their financial situation. It is important to assume some responsibility for knowing how to manage finances.
  6. Husbands have a responsibility to learn self-care-shopping, meal preparation and house-cleaning.

Consumer Fraud
In British Columbia, there are a number of laws which protect consumers from unfair business practices.

Preventive Tips

  1. Shop around - always get several estimates on major purchases or service contracts.
  2. If you do not know the seller, check with your local consumer group or the Better Business Bureau.
  3. Never sign a contract before you read and understand it. Do not sign a blank contract that a salesperson says will be filled in at a later date.
  4. Always keep records of such things as bills, contacts, canceled cheques, and warranties.
  5. Do not rush into something involving your money or property.
  6. Be wary of something-for-nothing or get-rich-quick schemes.
  7. Be wary of door-to-door salespeople. Do not allow yourself to be pushed into buying something you don't really need or want. Take a day to think about it. Read the contract; ask the salesperson to explain all the costs involved.
  8. Before you buy anything, find out what the store policy is about defective goods, repairs and returns.
  9. Avoid miracle cures, laboratory tests and mail order clinics usually found in magazine ads. There are no miracle cures for cancer, arthritis or any other disease. Bogus medical treatment offered through the mail should be reported to your physician or local medical authorities.
  10. Be suspicious of retirement estate advertisements in papers, magazines and brochures. A quick call to a reputable Realtor or the Better Business Bureau may save you financial grief.
  11. If you have a complaint and you aren't being treated well, put the complaint in writing to the store manager or president. Be sure to keep a copy.

Charities Verification
With all the charities presently pursuing the public's dollar, it is a times difficult to know which organizations to donate to or if they are even legitimate.

Preventive Tips

  1. Ask for the organization's charitable registration number. All registered charities have one.
  2. Be wary of telephone campaigns. Find out how much of the money actually goes to the charity.
  3. Question organizations who say they "will come right by to pick up your cheque". Ask them for their address and check if they are legitimate, then mail them the cheque. Phone the Better Business Bureau to determine their legitimacy.
  4. It may be wise to consider a policy of donating to recognized charities that represent causes which you or your group believe in.

Contractors
Sooner or later, every homeowner faces the problems of hiring somebody to do repair or improvement work around the house. Too often the experience is an unhappy one.

Preventive Tips

Beware of contractors:

  1. Who knock on the door to tell you they just happened to be doing some work in the area and can give you a "special price".
  2. Who promise a discount if you allow them to use your home "to advertise our work". The same offer will have been made to everyone.
  3. Who quote a price without seeing the job.
  4. Who demand a large down payment "to buy materials". All reputable contractors maintain charge accounts with their suppliers.
  5. Who refuse to give you a written contract specifying exactly what they say they will do.
  6. Who only address is a post office box, a telephone number, or the address of their answering machine.

Excerpts from "How to Hire a Contractor."
Available from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.