Part 2: What is Elder Abuse and What can be Done About It?

By Brenda Jones, E-MDT Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan In my first post, I addressed the creation of the Upper Peninsula Financial Abuse Specialists Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (U.P. FAST E-MDT) to combat elder abuse. Elder abuse is a form of family violence. Like other types of family violence, the dynamics of elder abuse are complex. The National Council on Aging estimates that 1 in 10 … Continue reading Part 2: What is Elder Abuse and What can be Done About It?

Part 1: What is the U.P. FAST E-MDT?

By Brenda Jones, E-MDT Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan Elder abuse is a complex problem that is receiving increased societal awareness. It occurs in any setting and in relationships where there is an expectation of trust, or when a vulnerable person is targeted because of age or disability. Every community has different circumstances, strengths, challenges, and priorities when it comes to addressing elder abuse. The … Continue reading Part 1: What is the U.P. FAST E-MDT?

Domestic Violence Awareness

By Shirley Brown, Screening and Application Specialist at Elder Law of Michigan Domestic violence is one of the most horrific crimes a person can be subjected to. The individual who commits the crime quite often goes unpunished. Perpetrators often hide their behavior from the public and seem to be ordinary upstanding people; pretending to be a loving and caring partner in public, while at home … Continue reading Domestic Violence Awareness

Protecting seniors from financial exploitation

Via The Sault News By Scott Brand Addressing what some call “The Crime of the 21st Century” Dr. Peter Lichtenberg of Wayne State University delivered an eye-opening presentation on the prevalence of financial exploitation in older adults. And the statistics reveal that it is growing at a rapid rate. In 2013, there were on average 1,300 suspicious activity reports a month, a figure that jumped … Continue reading Protecting seniors from financial exploitation

Scams Come in Many Different Forms

By Vonda Vantil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Social Security is at the forefront of keeping your online data secure, but you play a vital role in safeguarding your personal information too. Scammers commonly target people who are looking for Social Security program and benefit information. You might receive an advertisement in the mail, but it could be from a private company or even a … Continue reading Scams Come in Many Different Forms

Genetic Testing Scam Alert

By Kim Hill, Economic Security Client Services Manager at Elder Law of Michigan The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has issued a Medicare fraud alert involving genetic testing kits. Fraudulent companies are offering Medicare beneficiaries access to a free screening for cancer, Parkinson’s or other conditions, claiming that Medicare will cover the cost. These companies find their victims through phone calls, … Continue reading Genetic Testing Scam Alert

Beware of People Pretending to be from Social Security

By Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Social Security is committed to protecting your personal information. We urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your Social Security number (SSN) or bank account information to unknown people over the phone or internet. If you receive a call and aren’t expecting one, you must be extra careful. You can … Continue reading Beware of People Pretending to be from Social Security

Ron Tatro Named to Elder Abuse Task Force

By Keith L. Morris, President at Elder Law of Michigan The Michigan Department of Attorney General and the Michigan Supreme Court recently created a new task force to address the issues of elder abuse in our state. This Elder Abuse Task Force will be chaired by the Attorney General, Dana Nessel. Ron Tatro, Vice President at Elder Law of Michigan, was appointed to that task force. The … Continue reading Ron Tatro Named to Elder Abuse Task Force

Federal Trade Commission Scam Warning

Via Administration for Community Living (ACL) The Federal Trade Commission is getting reports about people pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) who are trying to get your Social Security number and even your money. In one version of the scam, the caller says your Social Security number has been linked to a crime (often, he says it happened in Texas) involving drugs … Continue reading Federal Trade Commission Scam Warning

A man holding a cell phone showing a login screen asking for username and password.

Beware of Scammers Pretending to be from Social Security

By Vonda Vantil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist In the digital age, frauds and scams are an unfortunate part of doing business online. During the holiday season, Social Security has traditionally seen a spike in phishing scams, and we want to protect you as best we can. We urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your Social Security … Continue reading Beware of Scammers Pretending to be from Social Security