Avoiding Senior Scams this Spring

With the coming of spring time, there seems to be an increase of fraud as criminals, too, want to get out and enjoy the sun. Senior citizens, as always, need to be ready and aware of the different tactics that scammers might try to take.

Today, fifty-seven percent of fraud in the United States is perpetrated on people over the age of fifty. Senior scams are not generally very complicated. They rely on intimidation and fast talking. The combination costs seniors millions of dollars every month.

So how can seniors protect themselves? By having common sense and being stubborn. Here are some of the main types of senior scams, and some tips on how to defend yourself.

1) Scams over the Phone

Seniors, telemarketers have your number! And not just the annoying ones. The criminals have telephones, too, and they love to use them. They might call a senior and tell them that they have won a major prize, or they could request a donation to a made up charity via a credit card number or some other form of identification. If they can get that information, they can use it to take big money away from them.

How to avoid Phone Scams:

Get on the Do Not Call list. You can do that here or call (888) 382-1222. This alone can go a long way.

Don’t ever give out your credit card number, bank account number, drivers license number or social security number over the phone. Ever. Just don’t give out personal stuff to a person you don’t know or a company you are not familiar with. Period.

If you don’t understand something that is being communicated, don’t be pressured into making a decision during that phone call. Get off the phone and call someone who is “in the know” first.

Handyman Scams

These are very common in sunny weather. It can start with “Ma’am, you need to fix your roof, or it’s going to cause major damage. I can do it cheap…” and then they give ridiculously inflated prices. And the roof was probably fine in the first place. The do this with stuff outside or inside the home, and they might even start before you have signed anything.

Here’s how you can avoid the Handyman Scam

Say NO.

Find a contractor you trust who will do your handyman work. Don’t let some average Joe stop by and talk you into anything. Because you HAVE a guy who does that stuff.

Don’t ever let someone be pushy and start doing work for you that you haven’t authorized. If they persist in starting to fix something you might get billed for, just tell them to leave. If they don’t, call the police.

Always have someone you trust look over potential handyman needs before you make any agreements.

We will continue to discuss senior fraud and elderly activities throughout the spring and summer, so be sure to check back. In the mean time, here is a more in depth look at some of these elderly scam tactics from Caregiver.com.

Elderly Activities in Houston

It’s springtime in Houston, Texas. Houston a top five US city with a metropolitan area of five million people. There are more than a hundred and sixty thousand retirees in the city limits alone, with many multiples more in the surrounding regions. Southern Texas is a popular retirement spot because of the consistently warm weather, the always warm culture, and the proximity to the Gulf Coast.

Seniors who live in Houston not only have a ton of senior housing options, but they also have many, many elderly activities to choose from. Let’s start with Senior Centers.

Houston Senior Centers

As we’ve said many times, senior activities generally begin with senior centers. There is much more that goes on at your modern senior center than just BINGO (stereotypes, anyone?). Not only can seniors get tons of information and resources to take advantage of programs around the region, they can make new friends and take part in dozens of activities.

Here is a short list to get you started if you’re looking for some Senior Centers in Houston:

Alexander Deussen Senior Center
12303 Sonnier Street
Houston, TX 77044

Neighborhood Centers Inc
2805 Winbern St
Houston, TX 77004
713-526-2641

Golden Age Hobby House
2805 Winbern Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 526-2641

Hardy Road Senior Center
11901 West Hardy Road, Houston
(281) 260-6772

Greater Northside Houston Sr. Center
2500 Campbell Street
Houston 77026
(713) 228-7543

Heritage Hall Senior Citizens Center
10201 Challenger 7 Drive
Houston 77029
(713) 75-4487

Outdoor Elderly Activities in Houston

There are some great outdoor spring activities for seniors and their families in Houston.

Bear Creek Park

Bear Creek Park, sometimes referred to as Harris Count Bear Creek Park, is a large Houston park. It is more than 2,000 acres in size, and has a ton of opportunities for seniors and their families to enjoy the Texas outdoors. it has multiple playgrounds, sports fields, many, many picnic areas (including some pavilions), and much mor. There is a duck pond, and even a small zoo! This park has something for everyone in the family.

The park also has walking trails, an equestrian trail, a small zoo (including buffalos, an ostrich, and emus) and aviary, playgrounds, soccer fields, little league and softball fields, four lighted tennis courts, eight picnic pavilions, horseshoe courts, and hundreds of picnic tables and grills. Near the aviary ducks can been seen walking freely around a pond. The park also has restrooms all around the park and drinking water fountains. The park is open all week from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm (local time). There is no cost to enter the park but pavilions must be reserved before use. Picnic tables and grills do not need to be reserved. The park has no stores and visitors must bring their own food if they plan on eating or drinking.

Houston Audubon Society

Seniors can enroll in some of the various courses available at the conservation, including hawk identification, introduction to bird watching and sparrow identification. The center also offers volunteer opportunities for seniors who want to lend a hand to the conservation and ensure its continued operation.

Deussen Alexander Park
12303 Sonnier St
Houston, TX 77044
(281) 454-7057

Deussen Alexander Park is a large park with a lake and ample space to play and picnic. You might even see some deer and buffalo!

Houston Golf Courses

Houston has some outstanding golf courses in the region. Experienced seniors and rank amateurs alike will love spending an afternoon getting some exercise and soaking in the scenery. Here are a few examples:

Memorial Park Golf Course

In an ambitious effort to enhance parks across the city, the Parks and Recreation Department began construction to turn the 9-hole course into an illustrious 18-hole golf course. In July of the following year, the first ball was teed off on what architect John Bredemus called his “greatest golf course ever.”
Through the years, Memorial Park Golf Course hosted many famous golfers such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Jimmy Demaret. It was also the home of the Houston Open from 1951 to 1963.

Note that Memorial Golf Course has a great senior rate for a round of golf: just $15. Check out their website for more information.

Hermann Golf Course
Here is another course seniors will love. It does not require a membership, and it has received some props from the likes of Golf Digest, which gave it 3 1/2 Stars!

Built in 1922, Hermann Park Golf Course is an oak-lined oasis in the heart of Houston, rated by Golf Digest Places to Play at 3 1/2 stars.

Hermann Park Golf Course is open seven days a week to the public and conveniently located for visitors to The Texas Medical Center, The Museum District, Rice University or Downtown Houston, with easy access to every other destination via major city thoroughfares.

Other Activities for Houston Seniors

Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center
No need for any explanation here, right? NASA continues to draw everyone, from kids looking for a cool outing, to seniors looking to relive some of the most exciting moments in American history. Come check it out!

Houston Asros Baseball
What better way to get out and enjoy spring than to go hang out with the boys of summer. The Houston Astros continue to be a popular attraction for young and old in Houston. Thankfully, they ditched their dome more than ten years ago, so you can go and truly enjoy the great outdoors. Here is a little more about the surroundings in Minute Maid Park.

A jewel in the crown of the majestic downtown Houston skyline, Minute Maid Park has become a welcome home for the Houston Astros and has ushered in a new era of Major League sports in the city. The downtown ballpark continues the proud tradition of visionary innovation in stadium construction, beginning with the club’s previous home – the Astrodome. Minute Maid Park’s retractable roof technology brought open-air baseball to Houston for the first time in 35 years, and the natural grass surface and classic architecture provided Minute Maid Park the atmosphere of the great ballparks of baseball’s Golden age.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder affecting the nerve cells in the brain which make a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps nerve cells send messages to the rest of the body to control muscle movement, so without enough dopamine, the muscles do not function properly.

What is the long term prognosis for Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, but the rate of progression is different for each person, and the responsiveness to medication varies. If left untreated, Parkinson’s may lead to the deterioration of all brain functions and early death.

What causes Parkinson’s?
No one knows why the dopamine-producing nerve cells are gradually damaged and eventually destroyed. Sometimes Parkinson’s does run in families, especially when the age of onset is younger than 50, but most patients do not experience any symptoms of Parkinson’s until after the age of 50.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s?

Tremors or shaking of the hands, feet, or head

Stiffness or freezing in limbs and facial expressions

Speech is slurred, slowed, or becomes monotone

Muscle movements slow down

Posture becomes stooped

Swallowing becomes difficult

Drooling is uncontrollable

Mental confusion or disorientation occurs

Small muscle movement becomes difficult (activities like writing)

Vivid dreams or hallucinations

Reflexes (like blinking) slow or stop

Difficulty maintaining balance

Symptoms may affect one or both sides of the body. Patients may not experience all of the above symptoms, but generally the severity and variety of symptoms increase as the disease progresses.

How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?
Doctors will look for the presence of symptoms to make a diagnosis. Because some of the same symptoms are found with other disorders, doctors may run tests to rule out other disorders.

How is Parkinson’s treated?
Because there is no known cure for Parkinson’s, the primary goal of treatment is to manage the symptoms and improve overall health and strength. Most symptoms are diminished with the use of medications that increase the level of dopamine in the brain, but as the medication wears off, symptoms return. Other medical care like therapy, exercise, or dietary improvements may help maintain muscle control and slow the advancement of Parkinson’s.

When medications are not effective, severe Parkinson’s patients may be recommended to undergo surgical procedures like Deep Brain Stimulation using electrical stimulation, or another more drastic surgery to destroy the effected brain tissues which cause the symptoms of Parkinson’s. None of the surgical procedures are considered a cure for Parkinson’s, but may help some patients with severe symptoms.

Who may be a part of the medical care team for a Parkinson’s patient?
Doctors will work to find the medications, dosage, and timing of doses that are most effective for each patient. Physical therapists will customize exercises to prevent muscle atrophy, and occupational therapists will help find exercises or adaptive equipment that will allow patients to remain as independent and functional in the home as long as possible. A speech therapist may offer helpful exercises to maintain clear speech. A nutritionist may also be on call to adjust diet to improve overall health and meet the specific needs of patients.

For more information on elderly services and other helpful information for seniors, check back here often.

Elderly Activities in Dallas

Lots of Activities for North Texas Seniors!

The Dallas, TX metroplex is home to more than five and a half million people. Inside the city limits, there are more than one millions, and eight percent of those are senior citizens. So, if you are a senior living either at home or in a senior living community, what can you get out and do in a place like Dallas? Well, we have some ideas for you.

Dallas Senior Centers

Senior Centers are usually where elderly activities begin. Not only do they have information on senior care facilities and government programs all around the city, they also have their own gatherings. And if you’re thinking that just means shuffle board and bingo, think again. There are tons of activities that are varied and exciting. Senior Centers are the hub of the elderly community in almost any US city. In Dallas, there are tons of options. We’ll give you a few below, and there are a lot more up on the map!

Cedar Crest Senior Center
1007 Hutchins Road
Dallas, TX
(214) 941-7404

Elmwood Senior Center
1315 Berkley
Dallas, TX
(214) 330-7144

Jefferson Senior Center
1617 West Jefferson
Dallas, TX
(214) 943-3304

Jewish Community Center
7900 Northhaven Road
Dallas
(214) 739-2737

Juanita Craft Senior Center
4500 Spring Avenue
Dallas
(214) 670-8203

King/New Beginning Senior Center
114 West Hobson
Dallas
(214) 670-7595

M.L.K. Senior Center
2901 Pennsylvania
Dallas
(214) 670-0355

Mountain View Senior Center
4849 West Illinois
Dallas
(214) 860-8816

Outdoor Elderly Activities

Parks

The Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum, one of the most beautiful outdoor attractions in Dallas, features
66-acres of spectacular display gardens that showcase incredible seasonal flowers, ornamental shrubs, trees and plant collections in a serene setting on White Rock Lake.

The Arboretum is home to seasonal outdoor festivals, concerts, art shows and more. Throughout the year, guests enjoy both indoor and outdoor dining in either Restaurant DeGolyer by Wendy Krispin Caterer in our historic DeGolyer House or on the Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace overlooking downtown Dallas.

The Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo is not just for children. Now the largest zoological park in Texas is reaching out to the silver set with Senior Safari Wednesdays. Senior citizens age 65 and better receive discounted admission of $5 per person to the Dallas Zoo every Wednesday. The program kicks off on Wednesday, March 23, at 10 a.m. with a reception at the Zoofari Food Court deck overlooking the flamingo pond. The Dallas Banjo Band will perform and special zookeeper encounters will be available. The Zoo will recognize Marietta Janak, an active volunteer with the longest record of service to the organization. Former zookeepers and volunteers also will be recognized at the event.
(From Dallaszoo.com)

Golf Courses

The Dallas metroplex is notoriously spread out. This is great for golfers, because it means there are lots of courses around the region. Beautiful ones, too! Here is a quick sampling for elderly golfers:

Tenison Golf Course
3501 Samuell Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75223
(214) 670-1402

Dallas Country Club
4100 Beverly Dr
Dallas, Texas 75205
(214) 521-2151

Lakewood Country Club
6430 Gaston Avenue
Dallas, TX 75214-4097

Baseball, anyone?

Dallas has always been a football town. But when the Cowboys slumped last fall and the Rangers made it to the World Series for the first time in club history, the city fully embraced their boys of summer. You can catch a Rangers game for a good price all throughout the spring and summer (and dare we hope… fall again?) For a full schedule of Texas Rangers home games, click here. The Balpark in Arlington is a beautiful, family friendly environment. It is a joy for baseball fans of all ages, including those who remember “the old days.”

Coming Events for the Elderly

Dallas Discovery Gardens Mother’s Day Concert

This is a lovely park and a great event for seniors and families. This is a one hour concert on Mother’s Day at 3 pm. The Dallas Women’s Choir will perform a concert, and then there will be a huge butterfly release. Check out the website for mor information.

For more information on elderly activities throughout Texas, visit this site.

Medicare Debate Needs Grown-Ups

Can we talk about the politics of fear for a moment? I really don’t like to get into the political stuff very much. But this is getting out of hand already, and I just have to say bring it up. Here goes. It’s hard to believe that just a few short months ago, everyone was talking about civility. Because right now, in the middle of a huge financial crisis, where our elected public servants are trying to figure out how to avoid national bankruptcy, people are starting to accuse others of really ridiculous things. It’s almost cartoonish.

Here’s what I’m referring to. The new chairwoman of theDemocratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman-Schultz said that Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal would “literally be a death trap for seniors.”

This remdins me of a routine by comedian Brian Regan. He was talking about how politicians make the most outrageous claims against eachother. For example, Regan saw a local political ad where one candidate accused his opponent of wanting to taser seven year olds. Ridiculous. The accused candidate scoffed that he had signed a bill talking about disarming a person with a weapon by tasing them. That included a teenager or even a child who was about to do serious damage with a weapon. The commercial was completely insane.

And this is insane, too. Are we really to believe that Paul Ryan and his republican colleagues hate senior citizens and want to kill them? Ridiculous. But the scare tactics always seem to come up when the budget is being discussed. Fifteen years ago, it was widely reported that one party wanted to “starve children” at school. And Ed Asner came on strong shortly after that with the then current tactics to frighten senior citizens into voting for his man.

I know, I know. Both sides do it. Neither one should. Let’s face it: whether you agree with his plan or disagree, it is clear Rep. Ryan is attempting to do something that, at least in his mind and the minds of his colleagues, will save the financial future of this nation. Entitlement programs cost this nation trillions of dollars, and they need to be restructured. That includes Medicare and Medicaid. His proposal would allow states to accept block funds for the programs and use them at their own local discretion, essentially.

Now, the chairwoman apparently disagrees. Fine. You don’t like his budget proposal. But don’t call it a “literal death trap” for seniors. I’m sure Rep. Paul Ryan has parents and grandparents. I’m sure he likes elderly folks just fine. And I’m sure he would like to be one in twenty years. So, just to play it safe, I’m guessing he does not want to kill seniors any more than he wants to tase seven year olds.

I think we all need to grow up a little. Seriously. Ryan could easily counter that if the nation does not cut back on its spending, then Medicare and Medicaid will collapse in a few short years, and there will not be any money available for seniors in nursing homes. And that would be an even bigger “death trap.” Yes, everyone can play this game…

Anyway, I am just tired of it. I am tired of the political roller coaster. I’m tired of people pandering so much to groups. I’m tired of fear tactics. Medicare, Medicaid, and other elder care services have to be reformed somehow if they are going to stay afloat. Maybe Ryan’s budget goes about it all wrong. Maybe he’s cutting too much too fast. If that’s what you think, that’s what you should say.

But don’t try to scare seniors into action. It’s insulting to your opponent, and condescending to seniors who rely on those funds and want them to be there for their grandchildren.

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