Seniors For Living

In this season of spending more money than usual, of sending and receiving packages at a higher frequency, of storing valuable items and hoarding envelopes often filled with cash or checks to be mailed, deposited or distributed at a later date, we all must be vigilant and protect ourselves from becoming victims of theft, be it identity theft or that of our valuables or money.

The same vigilance is required in assisted living, perhaps even at greater intensity, since more people tend to come in and out of a person’s apartment/room in this care setting (i.e. housekeeping staff, nurses/care aides, friendly visitors, neighbors, etc.). The front door should be kept locked as often as possible, and valuables should always be stowed away and secured, not out in the open.

In a recent post at AgingCare.com, a woman whose mother lives in an Alzheimer’s care community shared her concerns about a fellow resident who was stealing items from her mother’s room. Unfortunately, these types of incidents do occur often, whether or not the senior resides in a memory care facility.

Don’t wait until the holidays are over: take time now to secure your loved one’s valuables, important documents (Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc.), and other personal belongings to ensure safety and prevent theft year-round.

Read about elder financial abuse here at the blog.