Showing 14 posts in Senior Exploitation & Abuse.
Digital Dupe: How to Protect Against Identity Theft After Death
In the digital age, identity theft has taken on new and sinister forms, extending beyond the living to the deceased. When a loved one passes away, their identity doesn’t simply vanish; it lingers in both the digital realm and on paper, presenting opportunities for fraudulent activity. Read More ›
Categories: Cybersecurity, Digital Assets, Estate Planning, Fraud & Abuse, Senior Exploitation & Abuse, Technology
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Elder Financial Abuse: What to do if it's in the Family?
People preying on the elderly to get at their life savings, unfortunately, has become a common occurrence in today’s society. We have all heard stories about an elderly person being targeted and falling victim to an unscrupulous con artist. It is a sobering reality that everyone and their families need to prepare for as they age. When it is a family member who is suspected as the one taking advantage of their parent it puts this problem in a whole different light. What should you do if you suspect a family member of financial elder abuse? Read More ›
Categories: Dementia & Alzheimer's, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Financing, Fraud & Abuse, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
How FEPA Protects Michigan’s Elderly Against Financial Exploitation
In 2021, Michigan passed the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (FEPA or Act) which took effect last September. FEPA sets forth new requirements on financial institutions to report financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to adult protective services and law enforcement in Michigan, and was a result of work led by the Department of Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force. Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Financing, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Checking in and Reconnecting with Family this Holiday Season
This article was originally published in September 2019 and has since been updated with more current information.
To say that last year’s 2020 holiday season was strange and exhausting would be a massive understatement. With the pandemic raging out of control and the COVID vaccine unavailable to most, many families had to settle for Zoom parties in place of visiting with loved ones.
Even worse, grandparents and other family members more at risk of severe COVID outcomes were forced to shelter away from loved ones, creating even more mental stress, and loneliness. Read More ›
Categories: Dementia & Alzheimer's, Elder Law, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Trending Scams Targeting Seniors in 2021
The COVID pandemic has and continues to take both a physical and mental toll on senior citizens. In addition to being the most vulnerable to the virus and having to endure long isolation periods from family and friends, the pandemic has also brought with it a whole new variety of frauds targeting older adults. Read More ›
Categories: Alerts and Updates, Cybersecurity, Elder Law, Medicare, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Spotting and Stopping Elder Abuse by Those Exerting Undue Influence During COVID-19
From increased unemployment to social and political unrest, COVID-19 has had far-ranging consequences beyond the obvious public health crisis. One area that deserves more attention is the increasing threat of elder abuse by those exercising undue influence over isolated seniors during the pandemic. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Dangers of DIY Estate Planning Emails
Over the past decade, there has been a rise in demand for Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs). ALSPs are companies that provide legal services apart from the conventional paradigm of legal services and systems. They ultimately use legal technology in order to provide more efficient services in a faster span of time and with a drastically cheaper fee. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Estate Planning, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Beware of Debt Relief Scams During the Pandemic
The current pandemic has caused massive shutdowns across the country. Businesses have closed and unemployment rates have soared. Without a stable source of income, some soon find themselves in debt. Any sign of relief such as a phone call or email saying that their debts can be reduced or forgiven altogether is a welcome one. Read More ›
Categories: Elder Law, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Medicaid Planning and Senior Scams
Medicaid planning is a hot topic among seniors and their families. Foster Swift attorneys Matt Fedor and Nic Camargo offer an excellent overview of what Medicaid planning is, key considerations before developing a plan and how to formulate and implement a plan in their National Elder Law Month Video "What I should Know About Medicaid Planning."
Scams directed toward seniors sadly remain another hot topic. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, it's unfortunately common to watch the news and see a heart-breaking story about a senior who has been targeted by a criminal. While many of these crimes are not violent, they rob our senior friends of their funds, their property and often most hurtfully, their dignity. Foster Swift's article on "How to Spot the Red Flags of Financial Elder Abuse" is a good refresher for all of us, young, old, and in between, on how to keep the seniors in our lives safe.
Categories: Elder Law, Fraud & Abuse, Medicaid Planning, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments Designed to Protect Seniors in Michigan
Various programs have recently been enacted in Michigan for the purpose of preventing and/or minimizing some of the challenges facing seniors in an effort to help them maintain a high quality of life. Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Elder Law, Retirement, Senior Exploitation & Abuse
Survivor's Checklist:
Due to the shock of the death of a spouse or a loved one, the steps of what needs to be done first can be an overwhelming process for the survivor(s). To aid in the breakdown and to act as a tool amidst the emotional days ahead, estate planning Jonathan "Jay" David has assembled a "Survivor's Checklist" of some of the important things that need to be addressed when a spouse or loved one dies.
Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024):
Below is a comprehensive guide of resources for older adults living alone, empowering them to thrive independently and access essential services. This guide was created and provided with permission by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Resources and Support for Older Adults Living Alone: A Comprehensive Guide (2024) (ncoa.org)
Elder Organizer Tool:
Foster Swift has created a free ‘Elder Organizer’ digital notebook to provide seniors and their caretakers with a toolkit that helps organize doctors’ appointments, medications, and more that can be shared online. The tools below are also available on the Elder Law Resources page.
*For those trying to access these links by smartphone, it is best practice to copy/open the link in a separate tab and download the free Google Sheets app from Google Play or the Apple Store.
COVID-19 Checklist:
For adult children responsible for their elderly parents and other senior caretakers concerned about protecting loved ones as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, below is a free downloadable checklist of steps to follow to prepare for any possible COVID-19-related illnesses among the most-vulnerable.
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E-book Covers Estate Planning Essentials
Engaging in estate planning, while essential, is often emotional and generates many questions. How do I protect my spouse and my children if something happens to me? What happens if I become disabled before I pass on? Who will take care of my pet after I'm gone? How do I pass my business on to my children? These questions and more are addressed in Jonathan David’s recently updated e-book, “Estate Planning: You Have to Start in Order to Finish.”
Need Help Planning?
For more tools, visit our Elder Law Resource page for additional content. Click here to view/download the Foster Swift estate planning brochure to see what our experienced team of attorneys can do for you.