Right now, the senior citizen population is the largest it has ever been. The Baby Boomers are now either legally defined as senior citizens, or about to be there. This is a huge market, and it creates a lot of potential for businesses that cater to the elderly. This is, for the most part, a good thing as it makes many services that were difficult to obtain before much more accessible. However, it has also created opportunities for scams to grow, and although they are rare, because they target an often vulnerable group, they receive a lot of attention. Still, you should know what you can do in order to avoid finding an elderly loved one in such a situation. Here are a few tips for avoiding senior scams.
Be Aware
Just by knowing that seniors are the target of scammers, you are giving yourself an advantage. This will help you to better see what someone’s intentions are when they offer a service, and it will help you to figure out more thoroughly if this is really something that your loved one needs. Many times, people fall victim to scams simply because they don’t think they could ever be a target, or they think that this is something that they truly need, even though they really don’t. A pushy, smooth, salesman usually doesn’t have your best interests in mind, but rather, the money that they will be making off of you. And while it’s true that every single service you will want or need has someone standing behind it making money, this doesn’t mean that they are scamming you. Legitimate businesses need to make money so that they can keep providing their goods in the future.
Double Check
Sometimes, you hear about a service, or are offered an amazing product, and you can’t figure out if it’s real or not. In these cases, double check. If it’s low priced in-home care, for example, make sure that there are no strings attached, that the person offering the service is reputable and professionally trained, and that there is no safety risk involved. This is why professional services are always better. They have a low price, trained staff, insurance backing them up, and their caregivers are often bonded and have complete background checks. These measures are all designed to help you, and the independent caregiver that provides all of these things is very rare.
Say No
It’s the personal nature of some people to not want to disappoint others. These people have a built in aversion to saying no, even when agreeing to something that is not a good idea. Learning how to say no to things that are being offered is a good idea as it protects your financial health, and in a few rare cases, your safety.
Learning how to keep a watchful eye on whether you are being scammed or not is a good overall life skill, but when it comes to senior care and senior-based services, it becomes even more important. Odds are this will not happen to you, but it is a great idea to never let your guard down.
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