How often is your phone ringing? Scammers try to find older adults as they're often easier to con. You are seeing about a dozen calls each week from unknown numbers. How many calls are your parents getting?
Holidays are a key time for scammers. People are often more charitable around the holidays, so a scammer can call up and ask for a donation. There is no charity. The money is going to the scammers.
Before You Donate, Verify the Charity
Your parents can donate funds, but they need to be careful. They have every right to ask the charity to send the paperwork with proof of tax-deductible status, a mission statement, and a listing of how donations are used.
With this information, your parents should look up the charity online. It's important to see how much of each dollar donated goes to the charitable cause versus administrative costs.
Any charity that insists on cash, gift cards, or bank wires is suspicious. Verifiable charities will have a way to donate via credit card or to take checks. Also, be cautious of charities that offer to send someone to the home to collect a cash donation.
Consider Donating Locally Instead
Rather than donate to a random caller, your parents could pick a local organization and help. A local food bank is a good place to start. Instead of cash, your parents could donate high-demand items like large bags of brown rice, canned vegetables, dried beans, and pantry staples like flour, spices, and coffee.
During the holidays, many stores set up giving trees. Choose a tag off the tree and purchase the items for the person on the tag. Some trees are for children while others are for senior citizens with no family. Purchase those items and leave them at the designated drop-off, which is usually the store's service desk.
Have you considered arranging elder care outside of the holidays? You and other family members probably have time to visit more often when the holidays arrive. What about the rest of the year? If your parents are alone for weeks without having company, it could be impacting their health.
Caregivers provide companionship. It's also a good way to keep your parents from feeling an urge to talk to someone, which makes them more likely to answer a phone call and listen to the person on the other end. Elder care services are one of the best ways to help your parents stay social and avoid loneliness.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN GOLD COAST, IL FOR AN AGING LOVED ONE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.
Holidays are a key time for scammers. People are often more charitable around the holidays, so a scammer can call up and ask for a donation. There is no charity. The money is going to the scammers.
Before You Donate, Verify the Charity
Your parents can donate funds, but they need to be careful. They have every right to ask the charity to send the paperwork with proof of tax-deductible status, a mission statement, and a listing of how donations are used.
With this information, your parents should look up the charity online. It's important to see how much of each dollar donated goes to the charitable cause versus administrative costs.
Any charity that insists on cash, gift cards, or bank wires is suspicious. Verifiable charities will have a way to donate via credit card or to take checks. Also, be cautious of charities that offer to send someone to the home to collect a cash donation.
Consider Donating Locally Instead
Rather than donate to a random caller, your parents could pick a local organization and help. A local food bank is a good place to start. Instead of cash, your parents could donate high-demand items like large bags of brown rice, canned vegetables, dried beans, and pantry staples like flour, spices, and coffee.
During the holidays, many stores set up giving trees. Choose a tag off the tree and purchase the items for the person on the tag. Some trees are for children while others are for senior citizens with no family. Purchase those items and leave them at the designated drop-off, which is usually the store's service desk.
Have you considered arranging elder care outside of the holidays? You and other family members probably have time to visit more often when the holidays arrive. What about the rest of the year? If your parents are alone for weeks without having company, it could be impacting their health.
Caregivers provide companionship. It's also a good way to keep your parents from feeling an urge to talk to someone, which makes them more likely to answer a phone call and listen to the person on the other end. Elder care services are one of the best ways to help your parents stay social and avoid loneliness.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN GOLD COAST, IL FOR AN AGING LOVED ONE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.