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