Every Year Thousands of Seniors are Victims of Identity Theft

Did you know that in 2012, 1 in 4 Canadians will be impacted by some form of identity theft. Identity theft involves someone accessing your personal information such as banking, credit card, drivers license or SIN card number and using that information to impersonate you. 

Last week I heard Anna Hill from Legal Shield speak about the risk of identity theft and in particular how vulnerable seniors are to this crime. 

When we think of identity theft we all think about our bank card or credit card being stolen or compromised. I know this has happened to me. Overall it is usually a minor inconvenience - the bank replaces your card and covers the charges. 

But I have never really thought about my health card, SIN or drivers license being compromised. The criminals do not need to actually steal your card they just need access to your valid card number and your address. Your drivers license number can be sold and used to create a license for someone else. You may not know your identity has been compromised until you get a traffic ticket in the mail or worse a court date for a criminal charge such as drunk driving. Now you will need to prove that it wasn’t you! 

Seniors are more vulnerable to identity theft for a number of reasons: often seniors rely on others to assist them in their day to day activities; seniors may not check their bank or credit card statements; seniors may be more trusting of people and may fall victim to phone or Internet scams. Even after someone passes away their identity may be used by criminals. 

Here are some tips that Anna recommended to protect the seniors in our lives:

• avoid on-line banking and continue to bank in person  
• freeze credit (this means new accounts cannot be opened in their name)
• opt out of junk mail
• purchase a shredder and shred all documents with personal information 
• and finally, keep informed about scams (mail, phone, door to door, Internet, etc.)

Anna’s advice for everyone else - regularly change your PIN number and passwords!

Find out more about identity theft  here.

A glimpse of "living" with dementia

On February 19^th, 2013, l attended a seminar offered by the Alzheimer Society. The presentation was called Dementia Experience.

And what an experience it was!

The participants had to walk around with grain in their shoes to experience the discomfort that some elders might have when walking.

We had to wear sunglasses that had some scratches or dots on them to help us understand how their vision might be.

They also asked us to put cotton balls in our ears, so we would not have 100% hearing.

However, that wasn't all! They would ask us to complete some tasks. They would grab our hands and walk us to the washroom. They would come around and tell us it was time for our medication. It was all very humbling.

I walked away learning how difficult it must be for someone dealing with dementia. I felt like l had no control of my life. I had strangers walking me to the washroom, giving me my medication, my feet were getting sore and my vision wasn't clear nor could I hear very well … a very lonely feeling.

If you have a loved one dealing with dementia, the following are 10 warning signs of dementia.

10 Warning Signs of Dementia

1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day function

It’s normal to forget things occasionally and remember them later: things like appointments, colleagues’ names or a friend’s phone number. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more often and not remember them later, especially things that have happened more recently.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks

Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble with tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a meal.

3. Problems with language

Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or substitute words, making her sentences difficult to understand.

4. Disorientation of time and place

It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination -- for a moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get home.

5. Poor or decreased judgment

People may sometimes put off going to a doctor if they have an infection, but eventually seek medical attention. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment, for example not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.

6. Problems with abstract thinking

From time to time, people may have difficulty with tasks that require abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque book. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have significant difficulties with such tasks, for example not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean.

7. Misplacing things

Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes in mood and behaviour

Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit varied mood swings -- from calm to tears to anger -- for no apparent reason.

9. Changes in personality

People's personalities can change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes may also include apathy, fearfulness or acting out of character.

10. Loss of initiative

It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, and require cues and prompting to become involved.

For further information on Dementia or Alzheimer, please visit the Alzheimer Society in your area. 

by Lorriane, Mississauga operator with Haircuts on Wheels

Removing Grandma's rugs!

I won the argument! Well it wasn't really an argument, grandma is 94 and as sweet as ever, but she wasn't going to let me remove the rugs in her house. Why? Wait for it ... Because they are protecting her carpet. I have heard this exact response from other seniors when I've suggested they remove their rugs.

                                                     Grandma Darling 94 yrs old

Last spring I attended a seminar on "Fall Prevention" by Jackie Hickey from Bayshore Home Health. I have never looked at a rug the same.

Some statistics on falls:

• About one third of the population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors will experience at least one fall annually.
• As alarming as these numbers are, these documented statistics fall short of the actual number since many incidents are unreported by seniors and unrecognised by family members or caregivers.

• Frequent falling. Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again.
• About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall with in six months
• Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly. 87% of all fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
• Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions. 40% of those admitted to hospital do not return to independent living and 25% will die within a year.

Where seniors fall:

• Nearly half of all injuries among seniors occur at home. The bathroom and stairs are particularly hazardous due to the risk of slipping, tripping and stumbling often on rugs.

So, although it took me several visits to persuade my grandmother to give up her rugs, I finally persuaded her to roll them up and give them away. Now I can sleep just a little bit better knowing that I have prevented a possible fall.

Tips on Taking the Hairiness out of a Haircut!

So it’s time for a haircut … You have a lot of questions going through your mind … Will my child be frightened? Where should I go? Will the stylist understand our needs?”

1.  There is no specific age in which a child should get their first haircut. My middle son was born with a full head of hair and so at 3 days old, he got his first haircut. Uncommon yes, but neither right or wrong.
2. Don’t make a “big deal” about this event. Often parents are telling me as I walk through the door that “Johnny hates to get his haircut” while Johnny stands beside them clutching at their pants and listening to every word. Children are constantly changing, so give your child a chance to like getting their haircut this time.
3. If you act like it is a non-event, it will be!
4.  Timing is crucial. Make sure that your child is not tired or hungry. Make an appointment at their “happiest” time of day.
5. Be friendly to the stylist, this is comforting for your child and then ease your way out of site! Yes, out of site. You are their safety net and there’s a good chance that if they don’t see you, things will run smoothly.
6. Have a couple tricks up your sleeve. Bring a favorite toy or gadget, something that is comforting to your child and pull it out when you need it but not until then.
7. Have a favorite snack or treat handy. Preferably dry treats such as crackers, so the hair won’t stick to them.
8.  If you are going out to a salon, find out when their busy times are and avoid this time of day. Too much noise and chaos may be upsetting.
9. Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment so you are not rushed. This will give your child time to get comfortable. Make sure that you are relaxed. If you are anxious your child will be too.
10. If all else fails, have the stylist cut your hair first while your child watches - even if it is a “pretend cut”.
11. Ask your friends to recommend a stylist that is great with kids.
12. Another option is to have an in-home haircut. Companies such as Haircuts on Wheels will come to you in the comfort of your home. Having a haircut at home eliminates many of the issues that arise when going to a salon.  Your home is a comfortable and safe environment, less noise, convenient and there is no preparation before the haircut.

The Power of an Exercise

One weekend last spring I read a story about Kensington Hospice. It was beautiful and touched me deeply. I decided that I wanted to become part of what they were doing and for me, this would mean "making people look and feel beautiful" by doing their hair.

This month I am enrolled in the Toronto Hospice course. We are learning a lot and I am experiencing feelings I never knew I had. It's a journey. The course is 35 hours and is completed over about 5 weeks. It is mandatory for all hospice volunteers. I want to tell you about an exercise we did in class last week.  The topic was Grief and Bereavement. You can do it yourself if you want...

Start with a piece of paper and cut it into 12 small pieces. Take the small pieces of paper and make three rows of four squares each on a table in front of you. That is the easy part.

Next on the first row choose 4 people you love most in the world - write their names down on the first 4 squares of paper ... of course you love more but you must choose only 4. On the second row pretend your house was on fire and you could safely run in and grab 4 things that mean the most to you - write those 4 things down. On the last row - write down 4 of your biggest dreams or goals in your life.

Now imagine you've not been feeling well and have had some medical tests done. The doctors office calls you to come in. Take 1 square from each row away.

You meet the doctor and he tells you that the prognosis isn't good and that you have 4 months to live.
Take 1 more square from each row away.

I don't really have to finish this exercise because I'm already crying. I have only a glimpse of what my client is thinking and feeling. As a volunteer at the hospice I will be offering clients a shampoo, scalp massage, haircut and styling and a chance to relax for a few moments and feel beautiful inside and out.

A brush ... healthy hair ... and healing.

Sometimes it doesn't matter how much conditioner, olive oil, vegetable oil, wide tooth combs and DETERMINATION you use, sometimes it is not possible to untangle matted hair after weeks and months of being bedridden.

I met Susan recently at a Toronto area hospital. Susan had been in bed for many months, moved from one hospital to another and her hair had been badly neglected. The hair in the back of her head was so knotted that it was uncomfortable for her to lie her head down. I had been told before the appointment that it might be necessary to cut the knots out. At the time I had thought that would be unnecessary. I would never let "tangled hair" determine a client's cut and style. I would use the whole bottle of conditioner if necessary to smooth out Susan's hair. Hair is an important part of a person's identity and to cut out of necessity and not choice is a difficult thing to do.

Imagine being sick for months and then someone cuts your hair off too.

But I couldn't get the knots out. I stood back and looked at Susan's lovely, fine featured face. There was only one thing to do ... I had to sell a new hair style. So I smiled and got excited and told her it was time for a new style, something fun and easy, a wash and wear style. We discussed past hair styles and decided on an angled bob with bangs. She had not had bangs in years and wanted to try them again. We kept the hair longer in the front to create the illusion of length and went short in the back to get rid of the knots and reduce the chance of future ones. I had to move quickly since Susan could not sit in the chair for very long.

After the cut, I gave Susan a quick blow dry and finished with an amazing scented spray...

She loved it!

So my friends, please brush your loved ones hair daily, it will keep their hair healthy and the touch will help them heal.

First Haircut Ceremony

A child's first haircut is a special moment and many parents like to snap a few photos and keep a lock of hair as a keepsake. My appointment last Sunday was for a very special cultural ceremony where I would be shaving the child's head. I walked into the family's home and found the living room filled with family and relatives who were gathered to witness the "first haircut" of Dhrub, two and a half.
The room sparkled with colour as everyone was dressed in traditional wear smiling and laughing as they watched the rituals being performed. There was great energy and a feeling of connectedness - it was beautiful!
Dhrub was a superstar! I set up and let him pick a movie from my collection. He picked "Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas". I wasn't sure if this would be a problem, a Christmas movie at a Hindu head shaving ceremony, but his mother laughed and said he loves Mickey! So Dhrub watched Mickey as I shaved his head. His niece held a bowl to collect his hair and the family watched on.
When I was finished, Deepa, Dhrub's mother presented me with a gift. A fancy little purse that held a gold anklet, a package of bindi which are small jewels worn on the forehead and a betel nut. All are important Hindu symbols and I was deeply touched that she would give me such a gift.
As I left, I watched Dhrub walk down the hall playing a game on an ipod touch.
It is wonderful to see that we can honour traditions in our modern world.