QAC Aging and Transportation

Welcome back to the QAC Aging and Transportation Newsletter for the month of June!

This month, we want to take some time to address Elder Abuse Awareness. The International Network launched World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Elder abuse can be defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person”. It is a global social issue that affects the Health and Human Rights of millions of older persons worldwide and an issue that deserves the international community’s attention. Elder abuse is a problem that exists in both developing and developed countries yet is typically under reported globally. Although the extent of elder mistreatment is unknown, its social and moral significance is obvious. As such, it demands a multifaceted global response, one which focuses on protecting the rights of older persons.

To learn more about this subject, please consider attending the "Stand Up for Seniors" panel and Q&A hosted by the Queen Anne's County Aging Agency on Aging. Sign up is required, please call Lindsay Toulson at 410-758-0848 Ext. 2704 by June 9th to register. See the flyer below for more information.

Thanks to our sponsors:

GOLD:

• The Shore Update/Shore Media
• Beres Group @ RE/MAX Executive
• Compass Regional Hospice
• Queenstown Bank
• University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

 SILVER:

• Compassionate Home Nursing Care
• Delmarva Power
• QAC 4-H Park Association, Inc.

 BRONZE:

• ACTS Retirement Communities - Bayleigh Chase & Heron Point
• Bayside Physical Therapy
• CaptionCall by Sorenson
• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• CarePatrol of DE & MD Eastern Shore
• Charlotte Hall Veterans Home
• Chesapeake College 
• Chesapeake Hearing Centers, Inc.
• Cochlear Americas
• Complete Care at Corsica Hills
• Ebb Tide Tent and Party Rentals
• Edward Jones - Branch Office of Bill Caughey
• Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home 
• HeartFields Assisted Living at Easton
• Just For You Home Care, Inc.
• Key Health Management
• My Home Cares, LLC
• Queen Anne's County Library 
• Queen Anne's at Home
• Queen Anne's County Department of Social Services
• Queenstown Landing Assisted Living & Memory Care 
• Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore
• Realty Navigator 
• Slippery Hill Senior

Thanks to all the vendors who came out:

• AARP Maryland
• Aging at Home Solution, Inc
• AG Lab Service
• Alzheimer's Association Greater Maryland
• Anchored Hope Home Care, LLC
• Arcadia Living
• Bay Area Association of Realtors
• Chesapeake Caregivers
• Chesapeake Rx
• Comfort Keepers
• Edwards Pharmacy
• Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Eric Ivankevich
• For All Seasons
• Home Instead
• John B. Parsons Assisted Living
• Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development 
• Maryland Highway Safety Office
• Maryland Insurance Administration
• Maryland Legal Aid - Upper Eastern Shore Office
• MDTA Bay Crossing Study
• Mid-Shore Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
• Office of the Attorney General
• PAM Health Rehabilitation
• Queen Anne's County Family YMCA
• QAC Animal Services
• QAC Area Agency on Aging
• QAC Board of Elections
• QAC Character Counts!
• QAC Commission on Aging
• QAC Dept of Housing & Housing Authority
• QAC Mobile Integrated Community Health
• QAC Senior Centers
• Queen Anne's County Dept of Health Cancer Screening Program
• Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff
• Telecommunications Access of Maryland
• The Orthopedic Center
• VNA of Maryland

Scam Watch

Stay up to date with the latest news on scams, fraud alerts, and telemarketing hazards. Check back every month to help educate yourself on potential dangers and how to best handle them. To learn more, please visit the FDIC Consumer Resource Center.

Internet/Computer Scams

Your computer, like your phone, is a powerful tool that helps you stay in touch with loved ones, find information, and enjoy entertainment. But it also comes with risks. Scammers often use technology and tricks to steal personal and financial information.

One common method is called social engineering—this means they try to fool you into giving out private details by pretending to be someone you trust. They might send emails, text messages, or make phone calls that look or sound real.

These scammers want things like your credit card number, bank details, Social Security or Medicare number, and even your name and address. They can use this information to steal from you or sell it to other scammers, who may try again later.

^{Some ways to combat this type of fraud:}

• Protect Your Computer and Personal Information:

  • Use trusted, regularly updated security software.

  • Never email financial info—email is not secure.
    

  • Be careful with email attachments and downloads—they can carry viruses.

  • Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. To keep track, write them down somewhere you'll remember.

  • Never give control of your computer to someone who calls you unexpectedly.
    

  • Don’t rely solely on caller ID—it can be faked by scammers.

• STOP and THINK before responding to or opening a message from an unfamiliar source:

  • Don’t click links or call numbers in unexpected messages.

  • Delete unexpected emails or texts that ask for personal information or to confirm it—real companies won’t ask this way.

  • If you're unsure about an account or need to contact an organization, call the number on your statement or credit card, not the one that contacted you.

  • If a friend or family member emails asking for money, call them directly to make sure it’s real.

• If you believe that you have downloaded a harmful program or provided information to a scammer, don’t panic:

  • Use trusted security software to scan your computer and follow its instructions.

  • Change any passwords you may have shared, wherever you use them—especially if that password is one you use for multiple sites.

  • If you paid with a credit card, contact your provider to dispute the charge and check for other suspicious activity.

  • Stop all contact with the scammer. Talk to a trusted friend or family member for help and advice.

• If you believe you are the victim of Internet crime, or if you are aware of an Internet crime, you can file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.