Protecting Rural Seniors From Scams & Abuse

"Into the year 2030, we're talking approximately 22% of our population is going to be over the. Age of 65,” noted Ohio State University extension expert Kathy Tutt.  And she added with seniors facing some unique lifestyle changes and concerns, especially in rural areas.

“Some of those that were surveyed by the National Institute of Aging, a lot of them were talked about the concern of loss of independence. That was the number one thing as well as isolation.”

And it is that increased state of vulnerability that factors into concerns such as elder abuse and greater susceptibility to scams.  In addition, there are concerns about safety related to rural seniors.  For example, the average age of a farmer in the U.S. is almost 58 years old.

Education Key For Older Americans, Family

“Our older farmers are not stopping their work," Tutt said.  "They don't retire from their jobs.  They continue to work throughout their whole life.”

With these concerns for our elder population, rural or urban land grant universities and Cooperative Extension programs such as Ohio State's aging smart are working to improve senior independence and social capabilities.  And Tutt says not only that, but to educate children and caregivers of elders of resources available.  The intent is to foster a proactive approach when it comes to elder care, especially when challenges arise. 

“So much of our measures now in our society are reactive measures," Tutt added.  "Once the crisis happens then we are working very quickly.  We may not have all the right information, the right resources and even the right questions to ask when it comes time to take care of our parents.  So, we wanted to create something that would be on the front end of that.  Educating our consumers, working with our ‘young, old’ and our ‘older old’ to try to help them understand what they could use and what they could have in place to help them.  Primarily age in place in their own home.”

Within the aging smart system is a module dedicated to personal safety for elders and how they can identify and avoid potential scams.

Acknowledge There Are A Host Of Questions To Face

“What are the right questions to ask?  Who can you contact if you do have concerns? How do you take care of yourself even if you're just outside working, or if you're out in the community?  If you're shopping, what are those things? If you're traveling, how do you keep yourself safe? All of those different places that you might choose to be?"

Online offerings are available for this classroom based education program.

“Really helpful, sometimes in our rural communities that they can stay at home, they don't have to drive to the class. Then they can still receive that information. A lot of those modules are interactive and it gives them links to USDA, National Institute of Health, National Institute of Aging.  So, that they can go on and then keep their mind active and keep learning ways to help them remain independent."

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