Avoiding Scams – and Wrinkles

For Crescenta Valley Weekly, the month of January has been an eye-opening one. We’ve been covering all aspects of health and healthy living. For example, last week we focused on mental health and this week we are focusing on healthy living for seniors. This series has provided information that I might otherwise not have learned and reminded me how often the elderly – and those who haven’t yet arrived at “senior status” – are targeted by scams. In fact, on page 3 you can read Kevork Kurdoghlian’s story on a tax identity theft presentation made last week at the Sparr Heights Community Center.

Though seniors should be aware of how people fall victim to this crime, it is not a crime that only targets older citizens. In the story, you’ll read how to avoid falling prey to the schemes used by these predators to obtain personal information.

Some scams, though, do target seniors. According to the National Council On Aging, health care/Medicare/health insurance fraud ranks as the No. 1 scheme aimed at senior citizens followed closely by counterfeit prescription drugs and funeral and cemetery scams. Thankfully, the foothills have several resources available for seniors to keep them informed not only of these pitfalls but also of honest programs that can be beneficial. On page 5 you can learn about ASTER – Assisting Seniors through Enhanced Resources – and the ways it reaches out to the senior population.

Finally, for those interested in looking younger, it’s not hard to find claims of products that do just that. Whether it’s creams that you rub in, vitamins that you ingest or sprays that you spritz on, there seems to be a product that will turn back the hands of time.

Personally, having turned the corner on 50, it wasn’t long before I started seeing annoying little lines around my mouth and eyes. Taking pride in my appearance, needless to say these developments caused me stress. But I’m happy to share with you that I have found a solution to this annoyance.

I took off my glasses.

  Robin GOLSWORTHY