MN Commerce Dept launches senior fraud prevention campaign

SAINT PAUL – The Minnesota Commerce Department is convening a series of free public forums to provide information for older Minnesotans and their family caregivers on how to protect themselves and their money from common scams and fraud.

Older adults are often targeted for financial exploitation. It is estimated that one out of every five persons over the age of 65 has been victimized by a financial swindle, with older Americans defrauded out of nearly $3 billion each year. The threat of senior financial fraud is expected to grow as the senior population itself grows.

To provide older Minnesotans and their loved ones with the knowledge and tools to stop fraud before it starts, the Commerce Department is working with law enforcement, social service agencies and groups such as AARP Minnesota, Minnesota Elder Justice Center and Senior LinkAge Line (Minnesota Board on Aging).

A free copy of the Commerce Department’s financial fraud prevention toolkit can be requested by email at consumer.protection@state.mn.us or by phone at 800-657-3602. It is also available on the Commerce Department website (mn.gov/commerce).

Senior Fraud Prevention Events

Monday, December 4, 11:00 a.m. Hennepin County Library-Edina 5280 Grandview Square, Edina

Tuesday, December 5, 9:30 a.m. Cora McCorvey Center: Heritage Park, 1015 N. 4th St., Minneapolis

Thursday, December 7, 12:30 p.m. Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd St. SE, Rochester

Friday, December 8, 11:00 a.m. Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr., St. Cloud

Tuesday, December 12, 11:00 a.m. Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior, Duluth

Thursday, December 14, 2:00 p.m. Realife Cooperative of Phalen Village, 1355 Phalen Blvd., St Paul

Board on Aging publishes guide to health care choices booklet for Medicare open enrollment

The Minnesota Board on Aging has just published its 2015 edition of Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare booklet. Now in its sixth edition, the annual guide contains comprehensive information about Medicare health care plan options in Minnesota.

“Health Care Choices is a useful resource for older adults and family members making decisions during the Medicare open enrollment, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2014,” said Jean Wood, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging. “After Dec. 7, a change can only be made in a few special circumstances so it is important to use this time to make the best decision possible.  Any changes made will take effect Jan. 1, 2015.”

Health Care Choices is available online, by calling the Senior LinkAge Line®: A One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors at 1-800-333-2433, or by visiting www.MinnesotaHelp.info® and using the chat live feature or leaving an email after business hours.

70-Year-Old Volunteer Honored as MN's Salute to Senior Service Winner

A 70-year-old Moose Lake woman has been honored as the Minnesota winner of the Home Instead Senior CareR network's Salute to Senior ServiceSM award. Rita Baresh is being recognized for her dedicated community service, including her work with the Northland Foundation, Kids Plus and the Age to Age reading program at Moose Lake Elementary School.

The Salute to Senior Service program was launched this year by the Home Instead Senior Care network to honor seniors' commitments to their causes and communities. As one of 50 state winners, Baresh earned a spot in the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame on the SalutetoSeniorService.com website where her nomination story also has been posted.

"Rita Baresh is an incredibly passionate and energetic community volunteer," wrote one nominator. "She is a caring, inspiring, and giving person. Rita always has a smile on her face and provides children and youth with the caring and nurturing support they need to become healthy, productive adults."

"Rita is a valued member of the community and a senior hero to many," said President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Huber of Home Instead, Inc. "She has shown that volunteer opportunities for older adults should not diminish because of age. Seniors such as Rita are making important contributions to their communities through charities, nonprofit organizations and faith communities."

As a state winner, Baresh was considered for the national Salute to Senior Service award. The national award was presented to Clark Paradise of Lakewood, NJ, who was honored for his work with Your Grandmother's Cupboard, a nonprofit organization he and his wife founded to meet the needs of the thousands of homeless families throughout New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania. A $5,000 gift will be donated by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, to the Paradise's nonprofit charity of choice.

For more information about the Home Instead Senior Care network's Salute to Senior Service program, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Founded in 1994 in Omaha by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior CareR network is the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 950 independently owned and operated franchises providing in excess of 45 million hours of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ more than 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services - assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping - which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. In addition, CAREGivers are trained in the network's groundbreaking Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and EducationSM Program to work with seniors who suffer from these conditions. This world class curriculum also is available free to family caregivers online or through local Home Instead Senior Care offices. At Home Instead Senior Care, it's relationship before task, while continuing to provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of seniors everywhere