SAAFE: Save Abused And Frail Elderly
P.O. Box 1693
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
(551) 795-0471
Aging…The Right to be Safe

Elder Abuse: What you nee to know

Types of Abuse:
*Financial, Emotional and/or Sexual
*Neglect-Not providing basic necessities and care due to lack of ability, experience, information or capacity.
*Self-Neglect-Behavior and activities of elders that threaten his/her personal safety by failure to provide one’s self with necessities.

Signs of Elder Abuse:
*Unexplained physical injury
*Agitation, trembling, disorientation emotional distress, crying, depression.
*Withdrawn, shows no emotion
*Self-destructive behavior
*Social and physical isolation
*Unexplained loss of financial independence
*Home in disarray, lacks basic necessities

Be aware if:
*Elder appears fearful of caregiver
*Elder appears reluctant to respond when questioned; caregiver seeks to prevent private interaction
*Elder and caregiver give conflicting account of incidents
*Caregiver is indifferent or angry towards elder and refuses to provide necessary assistance.

Help Is Available
*In emergency call 911

If adult is at risk contact:
*Adult Protective Services (APS)
Bergen County (201) 368-4300
*SAAFE (551) 795-0471
SAAFE will refer to professional agencies

Seniors have life savings. They are vulnerable.

SAAFE Says: Be Smart. Think. Question! Check! Confirm! Say No! Hang Up! Refuse! Remember! Report!

SCAMS:

Scams come in the mail, over the phone and through social media. Scams promise huge winnings and financial gains. Medicare fraud, credit cards and computer scams are about phony problems. Scams are all about trying to separate you from your money.

You need to be wary. NEVER give your social security number to ANYONE on the phone or computer. ONLY give your Social Security number when you have initiated the contact and know the reason for its need and use. When someone wants to give you money, it is usually too good to be true.

When you are suddenly a ‘winner’ or are eligible to inherit money, it is most always an attempt to get YOUR MONEY.

Some of the Scams:

“Hello Grandma…Your loved one is traveling; you get a call…He/She is in the hospital or jail and needs money to get home.

*Action: Check to see where your loved one really is. Never send the money!

“Hello Grandpa…Share 1/2 of my inheritance; I need to pay the tax first to get ‘our’ money; need your money to pay the tax.

*Action: Too good to be true. It really is. Do not fall victim.

“Dearie…We are your friend/relative. We care for you; want to help. We will shop and bank for you (while we empty your bank account).

Action: Never give access to your bank account to anyone but a carefully chosen relative or representative.

“IRS calling… YOU FAILED to do…now you OWE…, now pay lots of money. We called to tell you how much you owe so you will not be arrested.

Action: Authentic government and financial organizations will only contact you by mail. Never by phone or computer.

“Computer problems? We can fix it. Give us access to your computer. It is easy, it is free. Big problem; now we charge.

Action: Never give access to your computer unless you initiate the request and know who you are speaking to.

“Credit card problem…Just give us your number; we will fix your problem free. We are your credit card company.

Action: Never give your number unless you initiated the call to the credit company.

WWW.SAAFENJ.ORG

*This information was taken directly off the pamphlet from SAAFE (Fight Elder Abuse).

*Disclaimer: I have never used this service before so I do not have an opinion of the service either yes or no but please call the service for more information.