​Financial fraud continues to be the fastest growing form of elder abuse. As the senior population in this country increases, so do the financial crimes committed against these vulnerable and trusting individuals. Elder abuse is particularly hard to combat because it frequently goes unreported, as do financial scams—making elder financial scams a relatively “low-risk” crime. Elderly victims are often confused, afraid or embarrassed to report crimes against them so the best way to protect your older loved ones is to educate them about common scams.

As  the senior population in this country continues to grow, so do the financial crimes committed against them. Stealing seniors’ hard-earned money is one of the most prevalent forms of financial fraud that takes place today. Scammers are repugnant but not stupid, and they prey on the vulnerability, trusting nature and, often, the loneliness that make seniors an easy target.
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The best way to prevent this is education about the common scams and fraud techniques used by those who target the elderly. This means not only ensuring that seniors in your life know what to watch, but also that they will come to a loved one for advice before they take action when approached by someone asking for money or personal information. Listed below are some of the most common scams currently used to victimize seniors.

Writing your will isn’t a task anyone looks forward to doing. You’re not only acknowledging your own inevitable demise but actively planning for it. In fact, an AARP survey found that two out of five Americans over the age of 45 don't have a will. However, creating a will is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones.
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By placing your wishes on paper, you help ensure that your heirs avoid unnecessary hassles and that a life's worth of possessions end up in the right hands. While preparing a will may seem like an overwhelming task, in most cases it is simple and straightforward. Below are tips to help you get started.

​With nearly 15 percent of the United States population already over the age of 65, few American families are exempt from concerns—now or in the future—about how to care for aging family members. For many, the ability to care for a family member in their own home is not an option, thus necessitating reliance on care from an assisted living facility or nursing home. Reliance on this type of care can prove costly, so it is important that families consider investing in long-term care insurance to help prepare for this eventual need.

When planning for life as a senior citizen, it would be smart to include Long Term Care on that bucket list.  Statistics show that 70 percent of people over 65 will need long-term care services of one kind or another, and it can be very expensive.
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Medicare coverage will not pay for most of the long-term care services that may be needed.  There are federal public programs, such as the Older Americans Act, that pay some long-term services, but like Medicaid they target people with the most functional and financial need.