Page 19 - Flathead Beacon // 5.18.16

Education Key to Curbing Elder Exploitation Commissioner of Securities and Insurance calls nancial fraud “crime of the 21st century”
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
Last month, Commissioner of Secu- rities and Insurance Monica J. Lindeen toured the state to promote a well-worn message – education is key to ghting fraud, which is a constant threat for Mon- tana’s aging population, a segment that con artists regularly target.
“Fraud doesn’t sleep. It’s a huge prob- lem, especially for our seniors,” Lindeen said. “Unfortunately, Montana seniors are on the front lines of investment fraud, with new con artists continually coming up with new schemes for separating peo- ple from their hard-earned life savings.”
Lindeen was in town to screen a made- in-Montana documentary about invest- ment fraud, she said, part of her ongoing e ort to protect Montanans from unscru- pulous operators trying to scam people of their money.
The documentary “Gold Diggers: Investment Fraud in the Treasure State,” tells the story of two of Montana’s most infamous investment scams in recent his- tory, and serves as an educational tool to raise awareness about scams, and how to detect them before it’s too late.
“The more you know about your rights, how to spot the red ags of fraud, and where to turn for help and information,
the less likely you are to be taken by a modern-day gold digger,” Lindeen said.
Lindeen noted that seniors should be especially vigilant, and said elder exploitation is a growing problem.
A June 2011 study, the MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse, found that nan- cial fraud and abuse perpetrated against the elderly in the United States rose by 12 percent in 2009 to $2.9 billion, compared to $2.6 billion in 2008.
Because most cases are unreported due to embarrassment or fear, the problem is believed to be much larger than statistics indicate.
“Elder nancial abuse is becoming
the crime of the 21st century. Montana’s seniors are often a target, and too often, the shame of being taken by a scam makes seniors reluctant to report the crime,” Lindeen said. “My o ce is here to root out investment and insurance scams – especially those that target seniors. It’s important to call my o ce at the rst sign that something might be wrong with a securities or insurance product. Mak- ing the call early improves our chances to make things right and could save many more Montanans the pain of being taken.”
Montana residents can call the O ce of Consumer Protection at (800) 481-6896.
tscott@ atheadbeacon.com
older residents. Agency on Aging Direc- tor Lisa Sheppard said the transit service provides more than 90,000 rides annu- ally and 36 percent of all passengers are over the age of 60. Besides inner-city service in Kalispell and city-to-city ser- vice between Kalispell, White sh and Columbia Falls, Eagle Transit also has a Dial-A-Ride service allowing people with additional needs to be picked up at their home and taken to their nal destination. Sheppard said 56 percent of Dial-A-Ride users are over the age of 60.
Sheppard said the transit service is looking at ways to expand its o erings as the valley’s population continues to get older.
“We’re looking at a rapid rise in the number of older people who live in the Flathead Valley and so we’re planning for the future,” she said. “We’re always look- ing for funding sources and for ways to recon gure our services to better serve our passengers.”
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
Hitting the Road Later in Life
Transportation options for an aging population a growing concern across the valley
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Whether it’s the long distances, rough roads or harsh weather, transportation in Montana has long been a challenge. It can be especially hard for older residents facing medical conditions that can hin- der their ability to operate a motor vehi- cle safely.
According to AAA, in 2030 nearly 90 percent of America’s 70 million citizens 65 and older will have drivers’ licenses, up from the 33 million in 2009. Motor vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of accidental death for Americans 65 and older.
Of Montana’s more than 780,000 licensed drivers, nearly 160,000 of them are over the age of 65.
Montana is one of more than a dozen states that do not place any restrictions on drivers. A doctor, however, has the ability to take away a senior’s license.
Before that can happen, the driver usually meets with someone like Denise
Zander, an occupational therapist at Summit Medical Fitness Center in Kalis- pell. Zander said physicians usually rec- ommend that patients take a driving evaluation after a major medical event, including strokes or a dementia diagno- sis. Physicians even recommend an eval- uation after procedures like hip replace- ments to ensure the driver still has the ability to quickly hit the brakes.
Evaluations usually start with vision and cognitive testing before the driver gets behind the wheel. In the past, Zan- der would take the driver on to the open road in a vehicle out tted with a passen- ger-side brake, but today she can have them strap into a driving simulator. The Summit recently purchased the simula- tor after seeing an increase in the num- ber of driving evaluations. Zander said in years past she might only conduct one evaluation every few months, but now she’s conducting them multiple times each month. The simulator has three computer screens providing a 180-degree
view of the road ahead.
“This is a great way to work with a
client without having to get on the road. It’s a lot safer option,” she said. “With this simulator we can complete an evaluation without putting anyone’s safety at risk.”
The simulator has various programs that allow the driver to cruise through a city setting or country landscape. During the simulation the driver has to avoid obstacles such as pedestrians and other vehicles. After the evaluation, Zander makes a recommendation to the doctor about whether the patient should drive in the future. In some cases, she may rec- ommend the driver be restricted to only operating a motor vehicle in certain areas or times of day. A doctor has the ultimate say in whether someone should retain his or her license.
Having a license revoked does not mean someone is stranded. Eagle Tran- sit, operated by Flathead County’s Agency on Aging, has emerged as a reli- able transportation option for the valley’s
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MAY 18, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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