Elder Justice on New Government Site
By Barry Zimmer on September 17th, 2015 in Elder Law
The federal government recently unveiled a new website for older Americans. The site, aging.gov, serves as a full-service stop for older Americans and their families. We wanted to see what the site offered and just how easy it was to navigate. Here’s what we found on the Elder Justice page.
As estate planning lawyers, we know well the statistics associated with elder abuse. Millions of older Americans have fallen victim to fraud, physical abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation every year. Many of the tips we provide to our clients are the same ones the aging.com site offers.
Did you know that 10 percent of elderly Americans are abused each year and another 14 percent were victims of financial fraud?
There are a host of ways to better protect yourself or your loved ones from financial exploitation. Tips to protect your loved ones from identity theft, an introduction to the Pocket Cents program offered by the National Credit Union Administration and access to the Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans are a few of the resources you’ll discover on the website.
Visitors will discover how to recognize different scams many older Americans face and there’s even information on the latest news on everything related to criminals and the fraudulent scams they’re using to steal from consumers.
The site even offers ways of reporting Medicare and Medicaid abuse, and certainly those that are most common at any given time. Examples are provided as well so that it’s easier recognized. Learning how to protect yourself and recognizing certain things to be suspicious of when dealing with doctors, health care providers, or suppliers can help you feel empowered.
Wondering if you’re facing discrimination? Easy to understand language about the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 can be found, too.
Finally, housing discrimination is on the rise. You’ll find a wealth of information available on the site, including how to recognize mortgage scams, housing discrimination and the reverse mortgages that are available – how to recognize the questionable companies wishing to take far more than they provide. You can even sign up for newsletters so that you’re always in the know.
As estate planning lawyers, our goals are always to protect our clients and their families. We think this is a great tool for every family that will bode well with efforts of protecting their loved ones and empowering all of us. You can visit the site at aging.gov and if there’s any help we can provide, we welcome the opportunity to do so. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too so that you’re always current with the latest goings-on.