Watch out for con artists posing over the phone as representatives of the IRS.  It’s an old idea,but treasury and IRS officials say thousands of people have fallen for increasingly sophisticated phone scams designed to steal money or identities.

The IRS recently issued a fresh warning, saying the scams may come in various forms.  In recent months people have reported “a particularly aggressive phone scam,” the IRS said.  In some cases, callers tell victims that they are “entitled to big refunds, or that they owe money that must be paid immediately to the IRS”.

The IRS says it “will always send taxpayers a written notifications of any tax due via the U.S.Mail”.  The IRS “never asks for credit-card, debit-card or prepaid- card information over the phone.

If you receive such a call, just hang up- and consider the following advice from the IRS.

• Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 if you think you owe taxes, or think you might.
• If you are sure you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think you might, report suspicious calls to the Treasury inspector general for tax administration at 1-800-366-4484.

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) and use its “FTC Complaint Assistant” on that site. “Please add IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint,” the IRS says.

For more information, go to irs.gov and type in “scam” in the search box.

If you or someone you know suspect that you have been a victim of a scam or fraud aimed at seniors, the U.S.Senate Special Committee on Aging, of which U.S.Senator Susan Collins is ranking member, has set up a toll-free hotline to help.

The hotline makes it easier for senior citizens to report suspected fraud and receive assistance.  It will be staffed by a team of committee investigators weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.  The investigators, who have experience with investment scams, identity theft, bogus sweepstakes and lottery schemes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, and a variety of other senior exploitation issues, will directly examine complaints and, if appropriate, refer them to the proper authorities.

Anyone with information about suspected fraud can call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-303-9470, or contact the committee through its website, located at http://www.aging.senate.gov/fraud-hotline.

“Ensuring that seniors are as equipped as possible to avoid becoming victims of fraud and other scams is among our committee’s top priorities,” said Collins.  “This new hotline offered by the Senate Special Committee on Aging will help to identify and put a stop to the cruel scams that hurt seniors and their families.”

Maine has a very active Office of Elder Support.  Each year the office publishes a resource directory for the aged and disabled in the state of Maine.  Below is a link to this directory of resources.

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/aging/documents/OADS-directory-2014.pdf

Medical alert scammers are making phone calls that do not start with a sales pitch but rather as a follow up call to a placed order.  They may start with saying “your order for the Medic Alert is now ready for shipping.  Press 1 now.  Since you were referred by a medical professional, you are eligible for……”

You can tell that this is a call from a telemarketer because they use a computer “dialer”.  The computer makes the call, then when the phone is answered the computer routes the call to the next available employee.  This creates a delay of a few seconds.  Instead of saying “hello” repeatedly, just hang up.

Medicare and Social Security do not call people: they write letters.  The same with contests and seepstakes, the IRS or Maine Revenue.  Legitimate callers will gladly contact you by mail.  Scammers use the phone because they give you less time to think.

Do not give money over the phone.  If the caller claims to be a relative, verify it.

Scammers take advantage of hearing loss, loneliness and pride.  If a call upsets or confuses you, ask for help.  If you don’t have family to ask, call your Area Agency on Aging ( 1-877-353-3771) or ask your local library or town office.  There is always someone who will help you figure out what action, if any, needs to be taken.

DAV Voluntary Transportation Network 

Gerry Baril is now the Kingfield area volunteer driver for DAV VTN which 
Links veterans throughout Maine to Togus VA Medical Center. 

The Disabled American Veterans Volunteer Transportation Network 
Has based a 10 passenger van in the valley to pick up and transport 
Area Veterans to Togus VAMC every Monday. 

The veteran(s) must have a scheduled appointment to be authorized 
To ride the DAV van. Appointments and rides are coordinated through 
The VA. The rides are free and tipping is prohibited! Call a week 
before 
The scheduled appointment. 

The DAV is not able to accommodate wheelchair patients or those on 
Oxygen except for shoulder carried oxygen canisters. 

Contact the DAV Transportation Network Office at 623-5790 or toll 
Free at 877-421-8263 Extension 5790 for more information.

Hypothermia is a special danger for elders in Maine.  Hyporthermia happens when the core body temperature is below 95 F. It occurs if the body loses heat faster than it can be produced.  Severe hypothermia can be fatal.

The elderly are at more risk for hypothermia for the following reasons

• •Lower metabolic rate, which makes it more difficult to maintain a normal body temperature when the room temperature drops below about 65 °F.

  •Decreased ability to detect changes in the temperature.

  •Decreased shivering and constricting of the blood vessels, which ordinarily helps maintain core body heat by diverting blood away from the arms and legs.

  •Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, underactive thyroid, and Parkinson’s disease.

  •Medications, such as antidepressants and sedatives, which may change how the body regulates temperature.

  What is especially important to know is that what might seem too warm for a younger person may not be warm enough for an older person. Ideally, the thermostat should be set between 68 °F and 70°F. Even just slightly lower can trigger hypothermia in a frail, elderly person.

  Preventing hypothermia in an elderly person

  •Wear several layers of clothing.

  •Wear long underwear, socks and slippers.

  •Wear a hat or a cap.

  •Keep the thermostat at 68 °F – 70 °F.

  •Drink warm beverages, but be cautious with alcoholic beverages because they can increase risk.

  •Check with doctor about medication risks.

  If you are caring for elderly people, be mindful that they may not be able to tell you they feel cold, may not be able to simply reach for a sweater for blanket, or may be concerned about the cost of turning up the heat. Also remember that they may not even realize it when they’re cold.

  The signs of hypothermia in elderly people are easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention. Here are some warning signs of hypothermia in adults (Courtesy National Institute on Aging)

  How do you know if someone has hypothermia? Look for the “umbles”— stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles — these show that the cold is a problem.

  Check for:

  •Confusion or sleepiness

  •Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing

  •Weak pulse

  •Change in behavior or in the way a person looks

  •A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs

  •Poor control over body movements or slow reactions

  What to do if you suspect hypothermia

  If you suspect someone has hypothermia, take his or her temperature. If it’s 96 °F or below, the person needs medical attention right away. The best thing to do while you’re waiting is to keep him/her warm and dry. Warm drinks are fine, but no alcohol or anything with caffeine.

  The increased cost of energy make it especially  important to check in on the elderly who live alone, are on fixed incomes, lack medical care, have poor nutrition, or reside in poor living conditions.

  Reprinted with permission from Maine Senior Guide.

Holiday blues. We all know someone, or someone whose loved one, is dealing with depression. Severe depression is debilitating, but there are levels of depression, and even a mild case such as being down in the dumps can take its toll. This was the focus of To Your Health’s latest offering, “How to Keep the Holidays Happy – Managing the Holiday Blues.” Torrey Harrison, LCSW, and Stephanie LeBlanc, LCSW, both from Tri-County Mental Health, were the presenters at a recent Senior College talk. The symptoms of depression, whether minor or severe, include: feelings of sadness or unhappiness; changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough); loss of interest or pleasure; lack of energy, oversleeping or insomnia; and irritability, frustration, agitation. Harrison and LeBlanc said that one in ten Americans are impacted by depression, either personally or through a loved one, but that 80% of people struggling do not seek help. Harrison and LeBlanc also made the following points during their presentation:

• As with any medical condition, if you are experiencing a major disruption to your life, talk with your doctor. Medication may be in order, but there are other avenues to explore as well. Many people find help through cognitive/behavioral therapy. Talking with a non-judgmental third party can be beneficial. Improve your general wellness level through physical and social activity. Exercise and eat a healthy diet to improve your sleep patterns. All of these can help you become more aware of what triggers your depression, and help you to cope.
• The holiday season – from Halloween to Valentine’s Day – just happens to coincide with the darkest 100 days in the northern climates. Many people suffer from a mild depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during this time. It is more common in women 20 – 55 years old, less common for men. If you did not suffer from SAD when you were younger, it is less likely you will experience it as you get older.
• The symptoms of SAD are not at the level of intensity as those of depression, but they are the same: loss of energy and interest, feeling moody or irritable, change in appetite (often an increased craving for carbohydrates), difficulty concentrating and accomplishing tasks. All are brought on by short days and decrease in light.
• With SAD there is no one thing that will help everyone. It is important to find things that work for you. Many people find that using full-spectrum lights at home or at work greatly improves their well-being. Known as “happy lights,” these are readily available. (Ask for one for Christmas, to help you beat the holiday blues!) Taking extra vitamin D or St. John’s wort is of benefit to some. If you know you experience a mood dip in October, plan things to look forward to during the dark season. Try to stay in the moment of what’s happening now. Be realistic – do you really need to make four pies for Thanksgiving? Reach out and connect to others. Do something for someone else – it really does help you feel better! And don’t forget to take time out for yourself, even just a few minutes. Avoid getting too busy.
• With family, decide what the holidays mean to you, and keep that in mind. Buy into what you want to do, not what others expect of you. Identify points of possible tension, and work to avoid them. Laugh! Have a favorite joke at the ready. And if you can’t laugh, force yourself to smile. Smiling will make you feel better. Beat those holiday blues!
• Reprinted with permission from MaineSeniorguide.  Check out their website for other timely topics.

An IRS scam that targets seniors and others is the latest, says the IRS. This IRS scam targets people across the nation, including recent immigrants. Callers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license.

The callers who commit this IRS scam fraud often:

• Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
• Know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number.
• Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling.
• Send bogus IRS emails to support their scam.
• Call a second time claiming to be the police or DMV, and caller ID again supports their claim.

The truth is the IRS usually first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes. And the IRS won’t ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The agency also won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone.

What to do 

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what to do:

If you owe federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.

If you don’t owe taxes, call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.

Be alert for phone and email scams that use the IRS name. The IRS will never request personal or financial information by email, texting or any social media. You should forward IRS scam emails to [email protected]. Don’t open any attachments or click on any links in those emails.

Thanks to  Martin C. Womer, Esq. of MAINE CENTER FOR ELDER LAW, LLC in Kennebunk for this information.

This article is reprinted with permission from Maine Senior Guide.

Got some great news from Shelley Ames Sala yesterday.
She is working with FMH Healthy Communities Coalition
Which was awarded a grant to help keep seniors home and
Safe and provide an assortment of assistance services towards
That goal.
Shelley is responsible for the Stratton, Carrabassett Valley and
Kingfield area. She is seeking out area residents who could benefit
From at home services to help with medications, mobility, companionship,
Transportation, wellness checks, and chores or errands to help out
Around the house. No charge all within the grant.
Call Shelley at 237-2843 to inquire and/or apply for service.