Visiting Angels April 2018

Visiting Angels April 2018

April 2018

5274 Scotts Valley Dr #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-0616 www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast 229 Reindollar Ave., Suite E Marina, CA 93933 831-392-0876

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A Friendly Voice With Dark Intentions

Protecting Our Seniors From Scams

Years ago, one of our clients developed a friendship with a man who claimed to be a minister. When they spoke, this “minister” would comment on how he needed money in order to carry on the good work he did. Our client, believing in the mission of the church, began giving $100, $500, and then thousands of dollars at a time to keep the church and congregation going. Fortunately, our caregivers were present in this situation, and we were able to inform our senior’s family. After a long and thorough investigation, it was determined this man was not a minister, did not have a church, and befriended many elderly people to get them to give him money. Seniors often find themselves the target of criminals like this “minister.” It’s not because seniors are more gullible than the rest of us. We have witnessed several of our seniors become victims of financial fraud even though they were very intelligent, informed, and aware individuals. Scammers don’t con people by tricking their intelligence; they target kind souls who can be emotionally influenced. I remember one time we received a call from a caregiver who said her client wanted to go to the bank and withdraw $3,000 to send to a person who ran an orphanage. This person had been calling our client daily, developed a relationship with her, and told her all about the wonderful children in the orphanage. When this person claimed the orphanage was in danger of closing because they didn’t have money to keep it open, our client wanted to do everything she could to help. Seeing the red flags, we intervened, called the police (who did an investigation), and blocked the person from calling our client. We have several families who have hired Visiting Angels because their loved ones were already financially exploited,

and they wanted a caregiver to be an extra set of eyes. In one case, a woman was befriended by a

handyman who took her to the ATM, discovered her PIN, and began withdrawing thousands of dollars from her accounts. He also would bring in her mail, stealing some of it to obtain sensitive information. Once he had all her personal information, he was able to open credit cards in her name and charge as much as he wanted, until he got caught.

“We all want to feel needed, and seniors who fall victim to these scams are vulnerable because they are lonely.”

We all want to feel needed, and seniors who fall victim to these scams are vulnerable because they are lonely. They may overlook warning signs because they feel valued. Visiting Angels caregivers can deter someone who attempts to prey on seniors. Just knowing a senior is not alone can make all the difference in the world. Not only is there another person present to observe suspicious interactions, but having someone else around may relieve some of the loneliness, making seniors much less vulnerable to a friendly voice on the phone.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Don’t Miss Out on the Benefits of Pets

We tend to picture energetic dogs and cats thriving in young families with children, but animals are often happy to live with older, less active

friends offer can alleviate depression or loneliness. Linda Anderson, founder of the Angel Animals Network in Minneapolis, says, “Older pet owners have often told us how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pet’s companionship, even when there were some downsides to owning an active pet.” Caring for a pet takes work, but for many people, the benefits greatly outweigh the challenges. An energetic dog encourages you to leave the house and go for walks, a talkative parrot makes time spent alone less lonely, and a soft cat curled up on your lap helps alleviate a stressful day. If you can’t have a pet in your home due to lease restrictions or mobility challenges, you don’t have to miss out on the benefits of being around animals. Consider volunteering at a local animal shelter. You can help care for cats, dogs, and other animals while they wait for their own forever home. There are thousands of pets in shelters across the country waiting for someone to care for them. If there’s room in your retirement plan, why not invite one into your home? You might discover both you and your new friend have something to gain.

adults. These kinds of homes are especially suited to older animals that might otherwise have

to spend their last days in the pound. Depending on your schedule and mobility, you might not want to adopt a large dog. But small lap dogs, cuddly cats, and even birds can make a great addition to your home. As long as you do not suffer from allergies, having a pet can be great for your health. The American Heart Association says pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, may be linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers found evidence to support this claim when they discovered that registered dog owners in Sweden had lower rates of cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of death than individuals without dogs.

Physical fitness is far from the only benefit of pet ownership. The love and companionship our animal

Financial Technology for the Golden Generation

Like most stereotypes, describing baby boomers as “tech illiterate” doesn’t tell the full story. Bill Gates is a baby boomer, after all. While not everyone in the “golden generation” is on Facebook, that doesn’t mean they can’t use technology. These three mobile apps are perfect for tech-savvy boomers looking to achieve their financial goals. ACORNS Acorns is the best way to make your spare change work for you. Every time you use your debit or credit card, Acorns will round up the spare change of that purchase to the next dollar and then invest it. Take that $2.30 cup of coffee from this morning, for example. This app rounds that transaction to $3.00, places the $0.70 extra into a fund, and invests it. This strategy, called “microinvesting,” may not seem like much, but remember that a mighty oak tree starts as an acorn! ROBINHOOD For many Americans, investing is either too intimidating or just downright costly. And no matter how well your portfolio does, you always lose a chunk of earnings to fees and commissions.

Robinhood is an app that removes all fees associated with stock trading and gives you free rein to buy and sell as you please. With seamless money transfers, Robinhood is a great way to build a large portfolio. It can even function as a small invested savings account. While it used to take weeks to transfer money by Western Union’s horse-drawn carriages, it now takes seconds with Venmo. This app gives you the ability to send money to friends and family via your phone. With a user-friendly interface, it’s VENMO

quick and easy to set up an account and link bank accounts or credit cards. Once you’re up and running, sending money is as simple as pressing a button. If you’re intimidated by learning how to use mobile apps, connect with a family member or friend. All of these apps are designed to be intuitive and easy to learn, so with a little time and practice, you can be savvy technologically and financially!

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your bank or a Social Security office and asks for account info, date of birth, Social Security number, or other such information, tell them to buzz off. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. Never let yourself be pressured into a decision. If someone asks for money or personal information, take a moment to confirm you are being told the truth. For example, if you get a phone call from someone who claims to be your grandchild in need of money, hang up and call your grandchild or their parent directly. Likewise, if you get an email from your bank that claims to have account information you didn’t request, don’t click on any links in the email. Instead, go to your bank website, contact your bank directly, and ask about the situation. TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST ABOUT THE SITUATION. If you are in an unexpected situation where money is involved, get a second opinion. Tell your family member, a longtime friend, or caregiver before you make a donation to the minister who claims his church is on the brink of closing. Having a second pair of eyes can keep you from making a big mistake. Some of these strategies might seem rude, but when you are trying to protect yourself from a scam, it’s better to be rude than to be a victim.

DON’T BE A VICTIM

3 Tips to Protect Seniors From Scams

Seniors are often prime targets for con artists. Every day, criminals make phone calls pretending to be grandchildren who need money, send fake emails offering a Social Security benefits increase, or befriend seniors just to take advantage of them. Here’s what you need to remember to avoid getting scammed. NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION. Legitimate companies or organizations will never reach out to you asking for personal information to verify your identity. If a person on the other end of a call or email claims to be from

MINT Pea Soup

SUDOKU

With the beautiful spring weather, peas will soon be ripe enough to slip out of their pods. In honor of the season, this recipe pairs peas and pearl onions with mint to make a refreshing soup.

Ingredients • 3 pearl onions, diced • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 6 cups fresh or frozen peas • 5 cups vegetable stock Directions 1. Place pot on stove over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent. 2. Add peas and stock. Cook until peas are just tender and still bright green. Remove from stove and cool for 5 minutes.

• 3/4 cup fresh mint, plus more for garnish • 1 tablespoon agave nectar • Juice of 1 lemon • Salt to taste • Pistachios for garnish 3. Put the mixture in a blender. As you blend, add mint, agave, lemon juice, and salt. 4. Once blended, pour into a bowl, garnish with mint and pistachios, and serve! This soup can be served hot or chilled depending on the weather and your preference.

831-430-0616 | 3

Personalized Homecare ... When You Need It ... From People You Trust!

5274 Scotts Valley Dr #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 24/7 831-430-0616

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Scotts Valley Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast Home Care Organization #444700002

Inside

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When Criminals Prey on the Lonely

Do Pets Fit Into Your Retirement Plan?

3 Must-Have Financial Apps for Baby Boomers

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Protect Yourself From Scammers

Spring Greens Soup

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Local Events

So Much to Do, So Little Time

Make April a Month of Fun!

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: ‘JULIUS CAESAR’ WHERE: Del Mar Theatre, Santa Cruz WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m. ADMISSION: $15 WEBSITE: www.landmarktheatres.com/ santa-cruz/del-mar-theatre

Eat and drink! Dance and shop! There’s no better way to spend a spring day than in the beautiful Soquel Village. Join the third annual Sip & Stroll Wine Walk, and you can enjoy the area’s finest wines while you explore the antique shops and cafes of this idyllic village. You’ll leave with fun memories, a commemorative glass, and maybe even a new favorite wine! 67TH ANNUAL MINERAL, GEM, FOSSIL, AND JEWELRY SHOW WHERE: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, April 28–29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADMISSION: $6 WEBSITE: scrockngem.org Do you have a soft spot for geodes? Have you spent a day panning for gold? Do you dream of finding fossils? Then you don’t want to miss the Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society’s annual Mineral, Gem, Fossil, and Jewelry Show! Enjoy a day perusing fantastic collections and attending hands-on demonstrations and lectures from geological experts. It’s going to rock!

“Beware the Ides of March,” an old soothsayer warned Julius Caesar. But the famous Roman leader would not heed the words, and he was ultimately betrayed by his closest companions. Recorded live in London, Nicholas Hytner directs a new take on Shakespeare’s dramatic story of political intrigue. With a star-studded cast and incredible visuals, audiences will get lost in a tale of assassination, civil war, and the responsibility of leadership.

SOQUEL VILLAGE SIP & STROLLWINEWALK WHERE: Soquel Village, Soquel WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 1–5 p.m. ADMISSION: $35 WEBSITE: soquelsipandstroll.com

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