When you think of fall, you probably think about cool, crisp weather, leaves changing colors, and pumpkin spice lattes. What you may not think of much is falls prevention. Falls prevention is an effort sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and coincides with the first day of fall in September. Some facts on falling:

•One-fourth of Americans aged 65+ fall each year.

•Falls are a leading cause of fatal injuries.

•The financial toll of older adult falls will increase as the population ages and maybe over $100 billion by 2030.

A growing number of older adults, like my father, fear falling and limit their physical and social activities. My father, who is 89 years old, was always active and played tennis into his early 80’s. He stopped playing when he tripped on the tennis court and has had several other spills since then. He is now very cautious and uses a cane.

Falling is a real risk but it does not have to be a normal part of aging. If you are unsteady on your feet then make sure you share your concerns with family and health care professionals. Falls prevention is a team effort and others can help you remain independent.

There are some things you can do to limit your risk and prevent falling;

1. Some people believe that staying home and limiting activity is the best way to prevent falls. However, doing this will reduce your physical strength and mobility. It is better to continue to be active and interact with others for physical and mental health benefits.

2. 50% of all falls happen at home. Make sure your home is well-lit, not cluttered, and doesn’t have throw rugs which can be a tripping hazard. Install grab bars in the bathrooms and use non-slip paint on outdoor stairs. Ask for help with any home maintenance that requires being on a ladder as that is another leading cause of falls. In the winter, ask a neighbor to shovel your walkway, keep it clear by using ice melt and wear cleats on your shoes to increase your grip.

3. It is never too late to start exercising. Exercise can partially restore strength and flexibility. Tai chi is a low-impact form of exercise that is especially helpful for seniors.

4. Medication can increase your risk of falls due to dizziness or sleepiness. Make sure you check with your medical professional about side effects and interactions between your medications.

5. Poor vision is another risk factor for falls. Have regular vision checkups every 6 months and keep your eyeglass prescriptions up-to-date.

6. Use a walking aid like a walker or cane to maintain mobility. Have a physical therapist fit the walker or cane to you and instruct you on its safe use.

7. Consider using a personal alert system that will sound an alarm or call for help if you fall. These devices can be worn around your neck or on your wrist. Some include GPS locators so help can easily find you.

So this fall, while you are enjoying a walk among the colorful leaves and sipping your pumpkin spice latte, think about Falls Prevention and the actions that you can personally take to reduce your risk. Share these actions with at-risk family members, as well, to keep them safe and upright this fall.

For more information, visit https://www.ncoa.org/older-adults/health/prevention/falls-prevention.

Founded in 1908, SilverSource is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides information, financial support, and other critical services that save lives, reduce homelessness among seniors and improves the quality of life for people over age 60 while serving as a resource center and referral source for older adults and their families in lower Fairfield County.

Kathleen Bordelon
Executive Director
Kbordelon@silversource.org
203.324.6584 x 301

Have you ever been scammed? Scammers are often professionals who know how to get people to respond. Seniors are often targeted for many reasons;

• they aren’t as tech-savvy,

• they are more trusting,

• they can be lonely, and

• they may have large nest eggs.

Older adults lose an estimated $3 billion a year to financial scams. This is often devastating because they lose their life savings and don’t have years to recoup their losses. Regardless of age, we all need to be familiar with various types of schemes so we can report them and keep others from being victimized.

I almost fell victim to a scam last summer on Craigslist. I advertised a used “vintage” hunter green outdoor patio set which was in good condition. I received a quick response from someone who said they were interested and would pay the full price of $500 via certified check. They wanted me to stop posting the item and said they would buy it sight unseen. A few days later I received a certified check in the mail for $1800, not $500. The extra money was to cover the cost of a truck that would transport the furniture to them.

Now I saw major red flags and took the certified check to my local bank. They advised me to deposit the check and give it a week to clear. Meanwhile, my buyer was anxious to pick up the furniture. All I had to do was to pay the truck drivers $1300 when they arrived to get the furniture. With a little research, I found out this was a well-known scam as it would take a few days for the check to bounce. I sent one last text to my buyer telling her that I knew this was a scam and did not hear from her again. Guess What—no surprise that a few days later the bank told me the certified check was fraudulent.

Scams can take all forms and some of the most popular ones are;

If you suspect that you have been targeted for a scam, what should you do? Here are some tips to avoid being taken advantage of by scammers. 

• Tell someone you trust about any suspicious calls or interactions you have had with a possible scammer.

• Never agree to hire someone who stops by your home or cold calls you out of the blue. Ask for contact information so you can get back to them.

You worked hard for your money and you need to hold onto it. Be aware of current scams by signing up for AARP scam alerts.

We hope this information will help you protect yourself and your loved ones from being taken advantage of by professional con artists.

And remember — if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

Resources you can trust include:

As always, SilverSource welcomes your calls with concerns about scams and fraud. Our staff is experienced with fraud and works with local authorities and law enforcement to assist our clients. Call to speak to a staff member: 203.324.6584

CT Elder Justice Hotline for Elder Abuse and Fraud

The hotline can be reached at 1-860-808-5555. You may also access information about the hotline, resources, and an online complaint portal here.

The Elder Justice Hotline can answer your questions, connect you with trained investigators, and help you access aid, support, and justice, The Consumer Assistance Unit of the Office of the Attorney General William Tong, staffs the hotline and refers matters as appropriate to agencies across state government including:

• CT Department of Banking
• CT Department of Consumer Protection
• CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• CT Department of Public Health
• CT Department of Social Services – Protective Services for the Elderly
• CT Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• CT Police Training Academy
• CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
• State Unit on Aging, Department of Aging and Disability Services

CT State Protective Services for the Elderly

If you suspect or believe that an elderly person is a victim of abuse, neglect (including self-neglect) exploitation, or abandonment contact the Protective Service Intake Lines listed below:

• During Business Hours: In-State: 1-888-385-4225 (Toll Free)
• Out of State: 1-800-203-1234 (Toll Free)
• After Hour Emergencies: In-State: 2-1-1 (Toll Free)

AARP:  Fraud and Scam hotline – 877-908-3360. Toll-free service is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET You can also sign up for AARP Email Alerts.

*To obtain the contact information for Adult Protective Services in your area, call the Eldercare Locator, a government-sponsored national resource line, at 1-800-677-1116, or visit their website at: https://eldercare.acl.gov.

Founded in 1908, SilverSource is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides information, financial support, and other critical services that save lives, reduce homelessness among seniors and improves the quality of life for people over age 60 while serving as a resource center and referral source for older adults and their families in lower Fairfield County.

Meleisa Holek
Program Manager
203.324.6584

Imagine what life was like just 20 years ago. Many people were using personal computers both in the office and at home. Cell phones were handheld but mainly used for phone calls. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that digital innovation really picked up speed. The internet became mainstream, social media like LinkedIn appeared in 2003, YouTube in 2005, and Facebook and Twitter in 2006. The first iPhone was introduced in 2007 and voice-activated assistants like Siri came about in the 2010s. Since then we’ve seen iPads, artificial intelligence, Instagram, cloud computing, Snapchat, Uber, Slack, TikTok, to name a few among the multitude of streaming services available. 

Today’s senior citizens did not have access to any of this modern technology growing up. They may have retired from work without having to use much technology. They might have viewed social media as nice-to-have but not necessary for their daily lives or only for younger generations. However, that all changed in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Like it or not, we accelerated into the digital world in a big way when life as we knew it shut down and moved online. Imagine how it feels to be left behind and socially isolated because you were not on the internet. 

The Digital Divide is the gap between people who have the opportunity to access the Internet and those who don’t. Only 40.7% of Americans 65 years old and older have broadband internet service. With basic service costing $60/month, 60% of Americans 50+ years old say cost is a concern. Some seniors don’t have access because they don’t think they need it or they live where it is not available. They may not understand what technology can do for them as it is not actively marketed to or designed for the elderly. They don’t understand the terminology. Keeping up with ever-changing technology is mind-boggling and expensive. However, with the size of the 60+ market projected to reach 1 billion people by 2030, this is a huge area of social and economic opportunity. So what are some practical solutions to enable more seniors to adopt today’s technology to improve their lives?

In order to move from the Digital Divide to Digital Inclusion we need the following:

1. Affordable, good bandwidth service*.

2. Devices with internet access to meet everyone’s needs.

3. Education on how to use the internet and other digital technologies.

4. High-quality, user-friendly technical support.

5. Applications and digital environments that make the user self-sufficient and an active participant.

6. Awareness and demonstration of how technology can directly benefit lives.

Imagine a world where many of today’s seniors go online for healthcare, to stay connected to friends and family, to learn new skills, to work or volunteer, to age in place, and to access opportunities. While we can now resume many activities that we were doing before the pandemic, we have seen the future be digitally transformed. Being online is not only for the young, the well-educated, the wealthy, people living in cities or suburban areas, U.S. citizens, the able-bodied, etc. We all have a right to access and use modern technology to improve our lives. It is no longer a nice-to-have — it is an imperative.

Visit our website at www.silversource.org for more information on all of our services.* The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) started in May 2021 by the FCC offers a monthly break of up to $50 on internet access for those who qualify. $3.2 billion in funds have been allocated to this program.

Founded in 1908, SilverSource is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides information, financial support, and other services that positively improve the quality of life for people over age 60 while serving as a resource center and referral source for older adults and their families in lower Fairfield County.

Meleisa Holek
Program Manager
MHolek@silversource.org
203.324.6584

Many of us look back fondly to the time we got our driver’s license in our teens and were able to drive ourselves to the movies, the mall, and friends’ houses. This was our first taste of freedom. 

To a senior, being able to drive represents that same sense of freedom and independence, an escape from the isolation of home, and the ability to get life-prolonging healthcare. Transportation enables socialization, working, and volunteering. All of these activities help seniors stay connected to their communities and give them a sense of purpose. That said, about 600,000 older adults stop driving each year, according to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Transportation can become one of the biggest responsibilities for family caregivers. They can spend more than five hours a week providing or arranging for transportation. Just in the last week, I drove my mother to two doctor appointments, to get a haircut, and to pick up groceries. I logged over 100 miles in a two-day period! These obligations make it difficult to devote time to my part-time job (which I took to help offset some of my parents’ expenses). It can be a real Catch-22. 

Some facts on the impact of caregiving responsibilities on employees:

•At any given time, more than 21% of the workforce is dealing with a caregiving situation.

•53% of caregivers admit their job performance is negatively affected and their health, finances, and quality of life suffer as a result of assuming this demanding role.

•Working females may suffer a particularly high level of economic hardship due to caregiving. 50% seek an additional job and 33% seek a job to cover caregiving costs.

Employers are also impacted due to lost productivity, job performance issues, and employees being unable to work more hours. Caregivers are more likely to leave the workforce altogether. If you are balancing employment with caregiving responsibilities, encourage your employer to adopt some of the following best practices: 

1. Create a supportive culture and encourage employees to make their supervisors aware of their caregiving responsibilities.

2. Provide education and training to supervisors and managers so they don’t discriminate against caregiver employees.

3. Adopt a policy to evaluate employees based on job performance, not time in the office.

4. Allow workplace flexibility which provides alternative work arrangements like flex-time, compressed work weeks, part-time, and telecommuting.

5. Offer eldercare support, resources, and referral services to caregiver employees to reduce their stress and improve moral and physical health.

6. Sponsor a support group or employee assistance plan to promote discussions about the challenges and emotional distress experienced by caregiver employees.

SilverSource offers “Rides to Wellness” which provides older residents free transportation to and from medical appointments in Stamford CT, removing cost as a barrier to healthcare. We have a Wheelchair-Accessible van, so we are able to serve both ambulatory clients and those requiring wheelchairs. 

If you or a loved one needs help, call SilverSource at 203.324.6584. Our expert staff can provide assistance, and connect you with the support you need.

Visit our website at www.silversource.org for more information on all of our services.

Founded in 1908, SilverSource is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides information, financial support, and other services that positively improve the quality of life for people over age 60 while serving as a resource center and referral source for older adults and their families in lower Fairfield County.

Meleisa Holek
Program Manager
MHolek@silversource.org
203.324.6584