A Couple of Things

By Dian Vujovich

Just got off the phone with my aunt in McAllen, Texas. It’s a city that borders Mexico and a number of its residents work in Mexico during the day and return to their homes in the U.S. at night. Forbes recently ranked it 7th for those seeking job opportunities in mid-sized cities.

She tells me lots of folks are walking around town with masks on to protect themselves but that there have been no reports of the swine flu in her community as of yet. I figure she ought to know because she and her husband also volunteer to work at one of that city’s hospitals a few days each week.

Her real news, however, is that doctors in this city of 131,000 residents are saying that masks won’t prevent the spread of flu because its itsy-bitsy airborne germs can penetrate right through the masks. Doubt if anyone will find comfort in that.

On to money issues, it’s no secret that elder financial abuse happens often. To help educate those with an interest in the subject, MetLife Mature Market Institute, the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University have complied a 40-page report I’d suggest downloading titled, “Study on Elder Financial Abuse Prevention.”

One of the study’s key findings: Perpetrators of elder financial abuses aren’t typically strangers but individuals who have gained the trust of the older person. The worst scoundrels are trusted business professionals (48 percent) and family members (45 percent).

While victims come from all walks of life, elder financial abuse may happen to any elderly person regardless of their age, gender, race or ethnicity. Doubt if anyone will find comfort in that either.

Visit http://www.maturemarketinstitute.com and look for “Broken Trust: Elders, Family, and Finances” in the column on the far right.