Common Senior Scams and How to Avoid Them

Mar 1, 2021

With the vast amount of information that is becoming available it isn’t always easy to know what to believe. A growing number of scammers are specifically targeting seniors based on their assumption that you will be more vulnerable to falling for them than tech-savvy younger adults. Here are five of the most common senior scams to watch for, as well as tips for avoiding them and fixing the situation if you do experience them!  

Common Senior Scams and How to Avoid Them

Medicare Scams

Navigating your health insurance policy can be challenging for anyone, and scammers tend to target seniors and other groups who they believe are less likely to understand the benefits and requirements of Medicare. However, it’s important to know that every US citizen or permanent resident qualifies for Medicare. Be cautious when communicating with individuals that may be pretending to be Medicare representatives or trying to provide bogus services in order to benefit from your policy.

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

Taking expensive prescription drugs may lead you to search online for more affordable alternatives, but it’s important to make sure that you are buying your medications from a reputable source. The FDA investigates approximately twenty major counterfeit prescription drug scams each year. At best, taking these fake medications will cause you to lose money while doing nothing to help you, and many contain unsafe ingredients that can have an even more harmful impact on your health.   

Funeral and Cemetery Scams

You want your family to be in the best possible situation when organizing your funeral, and being aware of potential scams that may come up when they are the most vulnerable to not thinking clearly about them can help them avoid the added stress of losing money. Scammers may identify families to target with calls claiming you owed false debts that need to be paid by reading obituaries, and dishonest funeral directors may try to sell services that are not needed.

Homeowner Reverse Mortgage Scams

If you’re not sure how much longer you want to own your home and are considering a reverse mortgage, be sure any communication you receive comes from the correct company. Scammers can send fraudulent letters that appear to be legitimate that give you a fabricated assessed value for your home and pressure you to take out equity to have repairs made to increase this value. Be vigilant when considering such repairs, as these may benefit companies much more than they will benefit you.

Telephone Scams

Robocalls have become much more common than they used to be in recent years, especially if you have a cell phone. These “callers,” which are often not even real people, attempt to gain access to your personal information using made-up:

• low interest rates
• free vacations
• card services
• other phony business concerns

Know that legitimate callers will leave a message with their contact information and will not ask you outright for credit card, banking, or other sensitive information, and never give these details to suspicious callers. 

What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) handles a variety of types of scam complaints. You can contact the FTC online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 to report a scam as soon as you realize it happened to minimize the potential damage to yourself and other targets of the scammer. Be sure to have your banking information available, as well as a description of what the scammer wanted from you and any of his or her contact information you have.

5 Things to Consider When Helping a Parent With Dementia Move to Assisted Living

Jan 29, 2021

5 Things to Consider When Helping a Parent With Dementia Move to Assisted Living

Deciding when it’s time to consider moving your parent(s) into an assisted living community can be challenging, especially if you notice if they are beginning to develop signs of dementia that may make his or her daily life harder or even unsafe.

Here are 5 ways based on our experience, that you can help your parent(s) choose a safe and welcoming community that meets his or her needs and make the transition to assisted living a little easier!

Early Signs of Dementia to Look For

Knowing the early signs of dementia, a general term that addresses the loss of memory, language, and similar concepts, can help you identify when continuing to live without assistance may no longer be the best option.

Although the early stages of dementia can vary significantly and do not necessarily indicate that your parent cannot safely live at home, when you see signs of dementia progressing and significantly impact your parent’s life, it may mean it’s time to step in. Some of the most common things to look for include short-term memory problems, limited social skills and problems keeping track of belongings, bills, meals, and appointments.

Start the Conversation Early

Discussing moving a loved one with dementia to an assisted living community that offers memory care programs and services sooner, rather than later, can help you and your family get an idea of your parent’s preferences before his or her memory loss makes having a clear conversation challenging. Having this conversation as soon as you start to notice signs of dementia gives everyone who will be involved in the process time to make decisions that meet your parent’s needs.

Consider Communities That Offer Memory Care Services

Choosing a memory care community that specializes in creating a structured environment for residents with dementia instead of a traditional assisted living community can improve your parent’s quality of life. These communities provide set routines to make life easier and less stressful for residents with significant memory loss, in addition to assisting with day-to-day tasks.

Choosing a memory care facility near you that specializes in creating a structured environment for residents with dementia instead of a traditional senior living/assisted living community can improve your parent’s quality of life. These memory care communities and their care teams provide set routines to make life easier and less stressful for residents with significant memory loss, in addition to assisting with day-to-day tasks.

Visit the Community With Your Parent

While the current landscape has made health concerns even more so top of mind, visiting communities safely is still an option. When discussing joining a new community, keeping your parent(s) involved throughout the process and taking their preferences to heart can reassure them that you have their best interests in mind.

Taking a live virtual tour of the community you are interested in with your parent(s) allows for exploring the layout, discovering amenities, meeting staff members, and discussing any financial concerns you may have. 

Make the Move as Simple as Possible

Moving isn’t always easy, but careful planning can help make the process less stressful for you, your parent(s), and any other family members or friends involved. Choosing the time of day when your parent is the most alert and mentally present, often around noon, can help to reduce confusion and give your parent the best chance to adjust to their new environment. Deciding which belongings to bring to make your parent’s new community feel like home in advance and making a plan for what to do with the rest, including your parent’s home, can help you feel less rushed on moving day.

Getting Started

At Nye Health Services, we know that deciding when it’s time to start considering assisted living options for your parents isn’t always easy, and we are here to help guide you through the decision making process.

If you’ve noticed signs that your parent may be developing dementia or another type of memory loss that is interfering with his or her daily life, now is the time to start considering your options. Contact us today to learn more about our memory care services or to schedule a tour of any of our communities!

Nye Health Services – Assisted Living Community & Memory Care Norfolk, NE

Nye Health Services was established in 1989 on the philosophy that older adults deserve services that recognize the individual and are tailored to their unique needs. As a company, we do not aspire to be the largest, instead, we aim to uphold our mission by providing award-winning health services that make our residents feel genuinely cared for and connected while realizing life’s joy.

For more information about our Memory Care Services and to schedule a visit, please visit our Memory Care Services page or contact us directly. At The Meadows, we are dedicated to helping individuals live each moment to the fullest, fostering a sense of purpose and connection in their lives.

It’s Officially Fall Time, But Don’t Fall!

Oct 12, 2020

It’s Officially Fall Time, But Don’t Fall!

The fear of falling can keep older adults from being active and enjoying life. The good news is that you can prevent many falls by making minor adjustments to your home and taking care of your health.

Here are Kathy’s Top Fall Prevention Tips:

1. Make an appointment with your doctor to review:
   • What medications are you taking? Make a list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications.
   • Have you fallen before? Write down the details, including when, where and how you fell.
   • Could your health conditions cause a fall? Let your doctor know if you feel it is more difficult to keep your balance or if you feel weak.
2. Keep moving
   • Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. Walking, water exercise, chair yoga are good choices. Such activities reduce the risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination and flexibility.
3. Wear sensible shoes
   • Consider changing your footwear as part of your fall-prevention plan. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. Walking in stocking feet poses an increased risk to your safety.
4. Remove home hazards
   • Take a look around your home. Your living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways may be filled with potenital danger. Keep your floor clutter free.
5. Light up your living space
   • Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see.
6. Use assistive devices
   • Your doctor might recommend using a cane or walker to keep you steady. Other assistive devices can help, too.
   • If necessary, ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist. He or she can help you brainstorm other fall-prevention strategies.

If someone you love could benefit from these tips, click here to download this sheet and print it off for your loved one.

For more ideas on how to make the home safer learn more about our Nye Home Health Care Services, click here.

7 Tips for Discussing Assisted Living with your Parents

Oct 9, 2020

Bringing up the idea that it may be time to consider assisted living to your parents may not be easy for you and your family. However, we’ve provided a list of ways to approach these conversations that can help make them more meaningful and productive.

Research Senior Care Options

In order to focus your research on locations that will best meet your parents’ needs, think about their current health and level of independence in order to determine whether assisted or independent living is most appropriate. Assisted living communities provide more consistent care and access to staff, while independent living simply eliminates the responsibilities of homeownership and will more closely resemble your parents’ current lifestyle. In addition, many communities offer specialized healthcare services, such as: 

• physical therapy and rehabilitation
• memory care
• medication administration
• personal care assistance
• other specialized services that are tailored to meet individual needs

Involve Your Parent(s)

Involving your parents in your decision-making process shows them that their happiness during retirement is important to you. Be sure to ask them for their perspective and take their input to heart regarding:

• how they feel about their health
• what type of care they need
• which community they prefer
• what they would like to do with their home
• what to do if they or their spouse experience sudden, serious health issues

Use Positive Phrasing and Tone

Using the right terminology can go a long way toward helping your parents develop a positive outlook on leaving their current home. “Assisted living facility” and similar phrasing can be off-putting, and Nye’s retirement communities prioritize creating a happy place for your parents to spend their senior years that is filled with amenities, fun things to do, and meaningful relationships with others in the community.

Although this discussion can be challenging for many families, using a respectable tone and setting up your conversation for two-way dialogue that respects your parents’ thoughts can help you peacefully and productively talk through the delicate decisions you need to make.

Consider Finances

Finances are a common concern among families considering assisted living options, but there are many ways to make assisted living more affordable. Begin by talking with your parents about their financial situation and what they have saved for retirement, as well as with one of our Senior Living Advisors to learn more about the costs of each retirement option you are considering. 

Involve Your Siblings and Loved Ones

Although you may feel tempted to make a decision yourself, it is usually best to involve your siblings and loved ones in the decision-making process. This approach helps to assure your parents that the people they care about want what’s best for them and are working together to find the best assisted living option available. Presenting unity and moral support throughout the process can make a significant difference in easing the transition to senior living for your parents. 

Explore and Tour Communities

Visiting the communities you are interested in is a must before making a final decision. If possible, tour communities with your parents and siblings in order to be sure that everyone is on the same page. Remember to focus on communities that offer a variety of options for specialized care that your parents may need, as well as the necessary amenities. You should also consider the travel distance from where the community is relative to family and friends in the area for future get-togethers and special events. 

Involve Your Parent’s Doctor

Although you won’t automatically have access to your parents’ health information because of HIPAA laws, which protect patients’ confidentiality, a parent can recommend that you and your siblings have access to this information in order to help them make decisions. Discussing your parents’ health and any concerns you may have with their doctor and asking for his or her recommendations is an important step in making an informed decision regarding assisted living.  

At Nye Health Services, our retirement communities provide amenities and services that will give your parents a safe and enjoyable place to spend their senior years. While we know that conversations about assisted living are rarely easy, we hope that taking advantage of these suggestions will make your family’s discussions less difficult.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about how choosing one of our retirement communities can be the perfect match for your family or to schedule a tour of any of our locations!

Senior Independent Living Bridges the Gap Between Private Home Ownership and Assisted Living

Sep 28, 2020

How Can I Make Senior Care More Affordable?

Sep 17, 2020

Whether you’re looking for somewhere that can give a parent the 24 hour care they need, or considering a wonderful retirement community yourself, you’re likely searching for ways you can make future senior care options more affordable. At Nye Health Services, we are here to help. Once you consider the costs of home ownership, meals, health care and transportation, you might be surprised at how affordable our communities really are.

Whether you’re ready to move into an assisted living community or are interested in a bit of extra help while continuing to live in your home, we will work with you to help you find funds from a variety of sources. Here are some answers to the most common questions we receive about paying for various types of senior care, as well as tips for making your senior years more affordable!

How Much Does Senior Care Cost?

The average cost of senior care can vary significantly depending on where you live and the level of care that you need. In 2017, the national median cost of living in an assisted living community was approximately $45.000 per year, but many states have a much higher or lower average.

If you require a higher level of care, you can expect an average cost of $4,290 per month for in-home care and $8,517 for residential skilled nursing services. Again, these national averages vary depending on the state you live in. Although approximately 90 percent of senior care is covered through private pay, you have a variety of options for making your senior years more affordable.

Private Options for Making Senior Care More Affordable

Many seniors have a variety of types of insurance and other private funding available that can be applied to assisted living or in-home care.

Life Insurance

Your life insurance policy can help you cover the cost of senior care in a couple of ways. Although you won’t receive the full face value of your policy to put toward senior care, cashing it in is one of your first options for finding money to fund your senior care. You can also convert your policy into a deferred annuity, which allows money from your policy to be paid directly to your assisted living community or in-home care provider each month.

Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance

LTC insurance policies generally have benefits that range from $50-300 per day. These funds can be used to supplement other sources to offset your total cost of senior care.

Reverse Mortgage

A reverse mortgage allows you to obtain cash from the partial value of your home. This can be a particularly attractive option if you would benefit from in-home care services but aren’t quite ready to move into an assisted living community, as it does not require you to sell your home before receiving benefits.

This type of loan is usually not taxed, but you will need to pay interest on it. You should also be aware that the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is the only type of reverse mortgage that is federally insured and that choosing this option means that leaving your home to your children usually will not be possible.

Bridge Loans

A bridge loan gives you the option of quickly moving into a senior living community even if you aren’t able to sell your home or other assets immediately. Although each bank handles bridge loans differently, you will generally need to make a down payment in order to obtain benefits up front. You (or your family members) will then make monthly payments as needed until your assets sell, at which time you will pay the full lump sum.

Public Options for Making Senior Care More Affordable

Although public options usually do not provide as much money to work with as private choices, the following sources may be available to you if private funding options do not meet your needs.

Veterans’ Benefits

Many wartime veterans and their spouses qualify for the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit, which is a monthly payment in addition to your pension that can be applied to senior care.

Medicare

You won’t be able to use Medicare funds to cover the cost of moving into an assisted living community, but they can be applied to up to 100 days of temporary care following an illness or injury.

It’s important to note that Medicare will not cover assisted or traditional long-term skilled nursing care, but it can be applied to a short-term skilled rehabilitation stay when qualifications are met. For more information, you may visit the official Medicare & Medicaid services website.

Medicaid

Medicaid funds can be applied to senior care in some states. Although it is unlikely to be your best option, it is worth looking into if you have no significant assets or income to use.

How Can I Learn More About the Best Options for Me?

At Nye Health Services, we are here to help make your transition to senior living as smooth as possible. We are a top choice among seniors throughout Nebraska and surrounding states, and we work closely with each individual to create a senior care plan that best meets their unique needs. Contact us today to talk with one of our senior care experts about how we can make your future assisted living options more affordable or to learn more about our campuses!