A FREE virtual event through the ADRC that we have coming up focused on connecting individuals to exercise opportunities that are going to help prevent falls.

Aspirus, Marshfield Clinic, the ADRC of Portage County and ADRC of Central Wisconsin have partnered to offer: “Let’s Get Physical: Getting and Staying Active to Prevent Falls” on September 7 from 2:00 pm -3:30 pm. Guest experts will help to: 

• Connect people to local and home-based exercises to improve strength and balance.
• See demonstrations of exercises proven to help prevent falls.
• Discuss ways to maximize preventive insurance benefits, such as Silver Sneakers or One Pass.

See the attached flyer for more details. Register online at www.adrc-cw.org/falls/ or by calling 888-486-9545. Registration is open through September 6. ** If you know someone who is interested in attending, but does not have access to the internet/computer/tablet etc, please call the ADRC at 888-486-9545, as there may be other options available.

By Shereen Siewert

A Los Angeles, Cal. man is accused of swindling multiple Wausau-area victims out of tens of thousands of dollars in an alleged “grandparent scam,” while facing similar charges in two additional Wisconsin counties.

William T. Comfort, 27, is being summoned into Marathon County Circuit Court Aug. 25 to face three counts of theft by false representation between $10,000 and $100,000 as party to a crime, with increased penalties for an elderly victim. Comfort is accused of posing as an attorney and collecting money from three separate elderly people in the metro area who thought they were helping a grandchild in trouble.

The three alleged thefts happened between May 6 and May 11.

Grandparent scams and related cons are common. According to AARP, from 2015 through the first quarter of 2020, the FTC logged more than 91,000 reports of crooks posing as a relative or friend of the victim. Police say such scams can be lucrative: Eight people charged in a July 2021 federal indictment allegedly ran a nationwide scam network that used this ruse to steal some $2 million from more than 70 older Americans over an 11-month period in 2019 and 2020.

Tips and resources from AARP are below.

Warning Signs

• The person claiming to be your grandchild asks you to send money immediately and provides details on how — for example, via gift-card, prepaid card or wiring money to a particular Western Union office.
• The call comes late at night. Scammers figure an older person may get confused more easily if they call then, the National Consumers League warns.

Do:

• Do set the privacy settings on your social media accounts so that only people you know can access your posts and photos. Scammers search Facebook, Instagram and other social networks for family information they can use to fool you.
• Do hang up immediately and call the grandchild or other family member in question, on a known number, to make sure they’re safe. With luck, they’ll answer, and you’ll know the supposed emergency call is a scam.
• Do contact other family members or friends if you have any concern that the emergency could be real. Scammers plead with you to keep the situation a secret precisely so you won’t try to confirm it.
• If you speak to someone who claims to be a police officer, do call the relevant law enforcement agency to verify the person’s identity and any information they’ve given you.
• Do trust your instincts. As the American Bar Association advises, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

Don’t

• Don’t drop your guard because the number on your caller ID looks familiar. Scammers can use technological tricks to make it appear that they’re calling from a trusted number, the Federal Communications Commission warns.
• Don’t volunteer information — scammers fish for facts they can use to make the impersonation believable. For example, if the caller says, “It’s me, grandpa!” don’t say your grandchild’s name. Wait for the caller say it.
• Don’t let a caller rush you into making a decision.
• Don’t send cash, wire money, or provide numbers from gift or cash-reload cards to a person claiming to be a grandchild. Scammers prefer those payment methods because they’re difficult to trace.
• Don’t panic, no matter how dire the grandchild’s predicament sounds. Scam artists want to get you upset to distract you from spotting the ruse.

More Resources

• You can report any fraud targeting older people to the FTC online or at 877-382-4357. You might also want to notify your state’s attorney general and consumer protection office.
• If you sent money to a suspected scammer via Western Union, call the company’s fraud hotline (800-448-1492) as soon as possible. Ditto if you used MoneyGram (800-926-9400). If the transfer has not yet been paid, Western Union or MoneyGram may be able to stop the transaction and refund your money.

Myth 1: The older you get, the less sleep you need. 

– We might wish this were the case, but older adults still need 7 or 9 hours of sleep each night. Adequate sleep can help reduce your risk of falls, improve your overall mental well-being, and help reduce your risk for certain health conditions.

Myth 2: Depression is normal for older adults

– Although depression is a common mood disorder, it is not a normal part of aging. Talk with your doctor if you begin showing signs of depression, such as irritability or decreased energy.

Myth 3. Older adults can’t learn new things

– Not true! Older adults can still learn new things, create new memories, and improve their performance on a variety of skills.

Myth 4: Memory problems always mean Alzheimer’s disease

– Not all memory problems are a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Talk with your doctor to determine whether the memory changes you’re noticing are normal or whether they may be a sign of something more serious.

Myth 5: Older adults do not need to exercise

– Older adults have a lot to gain by being active- and a lot to lose by sitting too much. Exercise and physical activity can help manage some chronic conditions, improve mental and physical health, and maintain independence as you age. 

Brain Health Awareness Month

Did you know that the brain:

–Is more efficient than any computer. Although the processing speed varies, it’s estimated that information can move through the brain at speeds of 268 miles per hour and has a virtual unlimited storage capacity.

–Only feels pleasure as there are no pain receptors in the brain; headache pain is felt in the brain’s covering, not the brain itself.

–Runs on electricity, producing enough power to light a 25 watt bulb

–Has 3 major parts

–Is the fattest organ in the human body

–Operates through chemical and electrical processes that allow communication with the nervous system

So what can we do to keep our brain healthy and functioning well?

–Take care of your physical health by having an annual wellness check. 

–Limit use of alchohol and quit smoking

–Working out at least 3 times a day for 30 minutes 

–Eating healht foods and limiting sugar intake

–Reading or journaling to stimulate the brain