Serving Our Seniors Magazine: April - June 2024

Dan McLaughlin is the Erie County Financial Elder Abuse Investigator. He works out of the Erie County Prosecutor’s office. The Financial Elder Abuse Stats for 2023 are disturbingly high. He wants to make you aware that the scams and fraud are only going to become more sophisticated in 2024. He warns, “ Be aware of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ability to scam you.” Dan attended an elder abuse seminar at Ohio State, produced by the Ohio Coalition of Adult Protective Services . One presentation explained how AI is being used to commit financial elder abuse. Dan said, “People will get calls and hear Ed McMahon’s voice calling him/ her. The person on the other end of the call will hear “This is Ed McMahon and the person who answers the phone will hear Ed McMahon’s voice say s/he is one of the finalists for the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. The person needed to send in their entry fee. Using AI, the person will be instructed to send a check or give Ed McMahon their credit card or debit card number to become a “winner.” The speaker at the seminar, reminded the audience that Ed McMahon died in 2009. How many of you remember that? Dan’s passion is preventing elder fraud and exploitation. If you receive a call and don’t know how to sift fact from fiction after 5pm or on the weekends, Dan wants you to have is cell phone number 419-503-5385 . Otherwise, call Serving Our Seniors (419-624-1856) and let us help you distinguish is this real or is it a scam? Time, and therefore, age does cause changes in the body and it does affect one’s ability to function. If we are not actively engaged in stretching and improving the strength of our legs…we live with the consequences. The consequences are difficulty doing tasks that were never problems at a younger age. For example, getting out of a chair without using your arms, getting off the toilet easily and getting off of the floor to a standing position, when necessary. On May 16, 2024, 1:30 pm – 3pm, at the Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street – Sandusky, Serving Our Seniors his holding a forum, entitled, “I’ve Fallen and I CAN Get Up! Tim Albrethsen, Physical Therapist with Firelands Health will answer audience questions about physical changes that prevent one’s ability to “do for him/herself,” as we age. He will also address what can be done to restore/improve lower body function. Serving Our Seniors’ Health Care Advocate Trainer, Tina Sluga, will also sit on the panel to address your questions and lend clarifying comments. Don’t let time rob you of your independence. Reserve your seat by contacting Serving Our Seniors 419-624- 1856 or Mail@ServingOurSeniors.org. An audience of 30 or more is required to justify the time of the speakers. Call and leave your name, phone # and the name of this event by May 8, 2024. If the forum is canceled, you will be notified by phone. Artificial Intelligence and its Ability to Scam You I’ve Fallen and I CAN Get Up! Dan McLaughlin, Financial Elder Abuse Investigator 19