50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Davenport, Iowa Office

By Pam Shaw
Social Security District Manager
Davenport Social Security Office

COMBATING ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse is the intentional mistreatment or harming of an adult over age 60. This abuse can take many forms – physical, emotional, sexual, and financial exploitation, as well as neglect. In the United States, an estimated 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse each year. That number is likely much higher because elder abuse is often underreported – especially in underserved communities.

Abuse victims typically show emotional and behavioral red flags, such as depression, unusual fear or anxiety, or intentional isolation. Many victims are abused by someone they know or trust. It’s important to look for unusual changes in behavior around:

• Family members.
• Staff at inpatient facilities.
• Hired or volunteer caregivers.
• People in positions of trust like doctors or financial advisors.

You can help make a difference by checking in with older loved ones. The first step to preventing abuse is to look for signs of mistreatment or physical harm, including bruises, burns, and other unexplained injuries.

There may also be signs of neglect such as:

• Hunger and poor nutrition.
• Poor appearance or hygiene.
• Lack of necessary medical aids like glasses or medications that a caretaker should be providing.

There may also be indications of financial abuse, including:

• Unpaid rent or other bills.
• Sudden changes to a will.
• Unusual changes in money management or habits.
• Large, unexplained financial transactions.
• Allowing someone new to access bank accounts.

If you suspect that a person is a victim of elder abuse, please report it. If you or someone you care about is in a life-threatening situation, call 911. If you suspect possible abuse – but see no immediate danger – contact:

• Your local Adult Protective Services at www.napsa-now.org/help-in-your-area.
• The National Center on Elder Abuse at 1-855-500-3537 (ELDR).

You can also find additional local resources by searching the Eldercare Locator for your community at eldercare.acl.gov/Public/index.aspx.

Take some time to call or visit an older adult. Ask if they are OK and listen to what they tell you. Pay attention to signs of abuse or unusual behavior. Most of all, don’t be afraid to report suspected abuse. For more information about elder abuse visit www.ssa.gov/payee/elder_abuse.htm.

Please share this information with your loved ones.

HOW WE PROTECT YOU FROM MISLEADING ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Social Security works with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.

OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:

• Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or authorized by Social Security.
• Operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look like it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
• Sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.
• Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval.
• Charges a fee for a service that Social Security provides free of charge without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If you receive a misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement, phone call or email, you should let us know right away. Try to capture as many details as you can.

Here’s what you can do:

• For suspicious websites or social media accounts, please take a screenshot of the page. Note the website address or social media link – and how you came across it.
• For emails and text messages, capture the entire message and any links or attachments.
• For mail, retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
• For telephone solicitations, note the caller identification phone number and any company name or call back number provided by the caller or recorded message.

You can help us stop misleading advertising and communications. We encourage you to report possible scams to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also call our fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.

To learn more, check out our publication, “What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising,” at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf. You can also review Section 1140 at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

Please share this information with friends and family and help us spread the word on social media.