Dana Mantilia realized how critical it is for people to learn about cybercriminals, identity thieves, and scammers while creating her identity protection company. 

Criminals often prey upon seniors in particular by playing on their emotions and loneliness, creating a sense of urgency to get them to act fast. That’s why it’s important to have conversations with seniors who aren’t as knowledgeable about the pitfalls of technology so they’re aware of the risks and keep their personal information secure.

This week Dana joins me to discuss the top tactics cyber criminals use. She shares common red flags to look out for, so you can spot an attempt when it’s happening. With her protection tips gaining more than 2.5 million views on social media, her advice is useful for people of all ages to prevent identity theft and avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

Topics discussed:

- Senior scams

- Identity theft

- Data breaches

- Credit monitoring

- Phone and email scammers

- Money laundering

- Cybersecurity

Takeaways from this episode:

- Scams tend to play off of emotions and urgency so you don’t have time to stop to consider the likelihood of their claims being false. Realize that in real life most requests don’t have to happen immediately, so don’t rush to pay anyone.

- Common phone scams include pretending to be a relative that needs money to get out of jail, people from “Medicare” asking for personal information, and “charities” needing donations.

- Use charitynavigator.org to check if a charity is legitimate.

- Never give out your personal information on the phone. Government agencies will reach out to you through the mail, not by phone.

- People will take advantage of seniors on dating sites by quickly escalating a relationship and asking for money.

- Don’t transfer money from your account to a stranger's because it could be a money-laundering scheme and you could be held liable.

- Review your privacy settings on Facebook.

- Use different passwords for everything so if your login details are stolen for one account, your others aren’t immediately compromised.

- Be sure to check your Google / Gmail password because your account often stores payment information to all the websites you visit.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

So, you decided your loved one needs a caregiver…what’s next? Where do you find one? How do you choose the right fit?

I'm not only a senior living expert with 17+ years of experience in the industry, but I am also the primary caregiver for my husband who is a stroke survivor. I have the perspective of helping others find the right resources while navigating this reality for my own family.  

With this unique position, I have gathered 7 tips for choosing a caregiver:

1. Understand the needs of your loved one. Do they have dementia? Find someone with relevant experience. Which tasks do you need help with? Also, figure out if you need someone only a few hours a week, or a few hours each day.

2. Know your finances. If you don’t have Medicare, you may be paying out of pocket. Consider what you can reasonably afford. Read your long-term care policy or contact your agent to make sure you understand financial limitations.

3. Involve your family. Make sure everyone’s on board with a caregiver. Communicate with them if you’ve been the caregiver up to this point and you’re burning out.

4. Decide on an agency vs. a private caregiver. Ask around at your church or in your social groups for recommendations. There are also franchises, but those tend to be pricier than local options and may require a minimum amount of time per day or week.

5. Ask others about their experience. Look at online reviews and see what people are saying about certain agencies.

6. Interview the candidate. Find a fit for your needs – and consider personality too! This could be someone that spends a lot of time with your family. Do you have a dog? Make sure they’re okay with dogs.

7. Communicate with your loved one and have a plan. It may be hard for your loved one to accept they need a caregiver. Present your plan and tell them it’s for their safety and your own well-being as well.

Topics discussed:

- Hiring a caregiver / home care

- Caregiver considerations

- Long-term care provisions

- Home care agencies

- Private caregivers

- Home care reviews

- Caregiver rates

Takeaways from this episode:

- Know if your loved ones have a pension, what their expenses are, and anything else that can impact your plan for hiring a caregiver.

- Consider reverse-mortgaging your home to access more funds.

- If your loved one is a veteran, there are different VA programs such as aid and attendance. Some agencies even have a contract with the VA to cover home care.  

- Big-name home care franchises tend to be more expensive, depending on your state, and can be $30-35 per hour. A private caregiver averages $25 an hour.

- Home care may require a minimum amount of time with you – for example, 4 hours a day, 12 hours a week.

- Have a plan in place before telling your loved one about home help coming in. Stand firm if adding help to your life is something you need to feel safe.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

What are the benefits of speech therapy to the brain?

If you have a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, you might find yourself visiting a speech-language pathologist. Depending on your injury, this professional helps with different areas of cognition and executive functioning, like decision-making and problem-solving skills. Together you’ll work to restore communication – and become as independent as possible in the meantime.

Francine Waskavitz is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and integrative health and nutrition coach (IHNC) with a passion for helping seniors maximize their cognitive health. By raising awareness on the importance of a holistic lifestyle, she encourages seniors to take early action to support their mind and overall health. In her own life, she learned about the power of food to heal and nourish - even alleviating and preventing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that could lead to dementia.

During her one-on-one coaching with patients, she also uses the Memory Wellness Wheel™. This breaks memory resilience into 8 elements. In her therapy, she goes through it one by one and works on helping you improve where necessary. This practice, along with lifestyle changes, have helped patients see incredible improvement.

We discuss:

- What speech therapy is

- Research on the relationship between aging, memory, health, and speech

- The importance of lifestyle in preventing / overcoming cognitive decline

- Signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment

- Steps to take if you notice your memory / cognitive health declining

And more.

Whether you’re working to improve your memory or prevent dementia / Mild Cognitive Impairment, lifestyle is key. The right diet can help, along with staying mentally active and getting proper sleep.

Topics discussed:

- Speech therapy

- The role of a speech-language pathologist

- Nutrition and lifestyle

- Stroke / traumatic brain injury recovery

- Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia

- Inflammation and disease

- Improving memory

Takeaways from this episode:

- Speech therapy is covered under Medicare as long as it's medically necessary. A change in medical status would also qualify somebody to have speech therapy services.

- As Dr. Mark Hyman said: “Your genes load the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger.” While your genes play a role in your health outcomes, your habits and lifestyle impact it the most.

- It’s critical to mention cognitive changes to your doctor. Forgetfulness is not a natural part of aging, so take note when it happens and how often.

- Masking and denial are early signs of cognitive change. However, once you speak with a professional about it, it may become easier to manage.

- Along with seeing your doctor, start with managing nutrition, sleep, and stress to help battle mental fog. Typically, within a few weeks, it will make all the difference.

- Inflammation is the root of disease. Look at your numbers, such as blood pressure, and try to incorporate omega-3s (salmon, chia, walnuts, etc.) in your diet.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

My loved one with dementia is anxious and agitated – what can I do?

It’s common for those with Alzheimer’s to have challenging behaviors – maybe they’re terrified, aggressive, or not sleeping. However, when Tonja Moon’s family gave her grandma a baby doll, everything changed. Her grandma’s mood completely changed, and the baby became her purpose. She began eating more and stopped wandering. She finally settled down and had a routine. Best of all, it helped provide the calmness she needed.

Tonja founded The Grand Baby Project in memory of her grandmother. It’s a research-backed nonprofit that offers dolls to Assisted Living and Memory Care communities and those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. They even offer training to help implement daily therapy in a way that will benefit those with dementia, including tips on introducing the baby, engagement techniques, and examples of activities.

Doll therapy is huge in the United Kingdom and Australia, but hasn’t yet gained traction in the U.S. It may seem odd to give dolls to a senior with dementia, but doll therapy helps give this population purpose – and those with dementia still deserve a sense of purpose!

Plus, caring for a doll can help provide peace, comfort, and joy, and the results have been remarkable. Many will sing to their dolls or revert to behaviors from when they were parents themselves, like bouncing or rocking them. Having a doll also provides a daily routine like walking them in a stroller, music time, and bedtime.

The Grand Baby Project is a nonprofit that works to find sponsors and donate to the folks who need them, and it is backed by the Dementia Society of America. They’re always fundraising so they don’t have to tell someone no.

Topics discussed:

1. Alzheimer’s and dementia
2. Doll therapy
3. Therapeutic activities for dementia
4. Alternatives to dementia medication
5. Activities for dementia patients
6. Assisted Living and Memory Care Training

Takeaways from this episode:

- Those with advanced dementia live in the moment. Doll therapy is a great way to help them find purpose, peace, and joy during a troubled time.

- Some studies have shown that if a dementia patient has doll therapy, they don’t have to take as much medication.

- The Grand Baby Project uses lifelike and life-sized dolls that are soft and cuddly, and come in different ethnicities. They also wear clothing in pleasing textures to those with dementia, who often have sensory issues as the disease progresses.

- When a senior is focused on the doll, it helps relieve often overworked and understaffed memory care facilities. When someone with the disease is calm and sitting, this calm state allows workers to check on more patients.

- There are many regulations around prescribing medications, and they're not always guaranteed to work. Doll therapy for Alzheimer's and dementia patients offers a great alternative.

Resources mentioned in this episode: