Elder law attorneys help older people to make sure they have protections in place to avoid the risk of asset loss and to be prepared in case of sickness or injury. Older people are very vulnerable in many different ways to experiencing financial loss. Seniors are often prime targets of scammers who think they can take advantage of elderly populations. Seniors may also find their wealth at risk because of high nursing home care expenditures or other substantial medical expenses that can arise due to old age and infirmity. 
Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC helps seniors to analyze the threats of loss that they could face and to find ways to minimize the risk and mitigate against possible financial harm. We offer a full array of services, including making asset protection plans to keep wealth safe from being lost both during your lifetime and even after your death. We can also provide advice to seniors and their families about the creation of a responsible financial plan to ensure that seniors limit the likelihood of being scammed.
Taking some initiative to prevent older Americans from being victimized is a smart course of action, and the good news is, Eyewitness News ABC 7 indicated that the New York Police Department is initiating a new program to try to help seniors avoid becoming victims of criminal acts.
NYPD Launches Effort to Keep Seniors Safe
According to ABC 7, the new program or initiative that the police are introducing to help seniors fight scams is called Senior Safe.
The goal of Senior Safe, ABC reports, is to “teach elderly city residents how to protect themselves from crimes.” As part of the initiative, officers from the NYPD have indicated they hope to visit every single nursing home facility in the city so they can provide more insight to vulnerable seniors about how to protect against becoming victims of a crime.
When the officers conduct visits with older people at senior centers, officers intend to take a mulit-pronged approach to help seniors stay safe. For example, in addition to providing insight and education, the officers may provide seniors with anti-crime goodie bags that include safety devices. A senior, for example, might be issued a personal safety diary, a personal safety alarm that can be used in possibly dangerous situations and a special pen that the senior can use to write checks which will not be able to be counterfeited.
During the initial program launch, the NYPD has an estimated 20,000 personal safety alarms to distribute to seniors who attend Senior Safe programs. The NYPD hopes to expand the program and to get more alarms and safety devices to hand out to seniors. It is launching the Senior Safe initiative because it indicates that preventing crime against vulnerable elderly individuals is a top priority for the department.
Getting Help from Elder Law Attorneys
Senior safety initiatives run by the NYPD and other organizations have an important role to play in helping older people to recognize scams and to respond appropriately if someone tries to take their money or property. However, there may be many other steps older people need to take to protect assets from threats big and small. Further, if and when seniors become too old or sick to manage their own money and to continue making responsible decisions about their assets and their lives, it may become necessary for a guardian or conservator to be appointed.
Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC can provide help to seniors who want to put asset protection plans in place to reduce the risk of big losses. We can also help those who want to be named as guardian or conservator for an incapacitated older family member whose age prevents him from being responsible with assets. To find out more about how our firm can help you, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at (631) 265-0599 or contact us online at any time for advice.
Mark S. Eghrari, Estate Planning Attorney
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