MARCH/APRIL 2015
Ask Don!
Your Questions on
by Don Hoffman, Staff Writer
Dr. Donald Hoffman, a former
director of the University of
Kentucky’s Council on Aging and
Donovan Scholars Program and
a nationally recognized author
and authority on aging, answers
your questions on aging. Submit
your questions directly to him at:
[email protected].
Have a Safe Trip!
Martha D. asks: My
husband and I are planning a trip
for our 50th anniversary. It’s been
years since we have traveled and
I’m worried about the security of
our home. Any suggestions?
Don answers: Normally
I’d just tell you to sign up with
a security company. They will
monitor your premises 24/7. All
your windows and doors would be
alarmed and the signal of a breach
would be monitored from a third
location. For folks who are unable
or unwilling to pay the fees associated with a security contract, here
are some things you might try.
Most police departments will
make an effort to carefully check
the security of your home, looking
for breaches, such as open doors,
broken windows or other signs of
illegal entry. All you need to do is
ask for a vacation check.
You should also notify a trusted
neighbor or relative and ask them
to periodically check your residence on the inside to make sure
no water leaks have occurred, your
refrigerator is working and your
plants are watered. Be sure to turn
off the main water valve and the
breaker to the water heater and unplug your TV. Stop the newspaper
and ask the post office hold your
mail. Be sure to give the police your
vacation address and telephone
number and the number, name
and address of the person watching
your home.
9
around lately. Many target the over- the telephone, ask that a hard copy
65 crowd. We seem to be thought
of the offer be sent to your address.
of as “easy pickin’s.” Yet many
If the scammers work door to door,
retirees have learned to protect
take the written material and a
themselves from scam artists by
sample agreement or contract, but
Aging Answered
simply recognizing that nothing is
again, do not sign anything until
free and no one is going to “gift”
you check out the company. Call
you just because of who you are.
the Better Business Bureau, the poMore On Safety
The first and most obvious trait
lice department and any trade orgaDavid M. asks: How else
that gets older adults into trouble
nization the scammer may belong
can senior citizens protect themis trust. Our parents taught us to
to. Use an attorney to check the
selves and their homes? What
trust when we were children. We
contract and call your children and
services do the police and/or fire
continue to trust people and take
friends to discuss the offer. Never
department offer?
them at face value. More often than give money up front in anticipation
Don answers: Both police
not, our evaluation of a person is
of work to be done. In Lexington,
and fire departments have combased on a short first few minutes
all door-to-door sellers are required
munity programs designed to help
of interaction. We like or dislike
to register with the city. Be sure to
older citizens such as you and I.
a person immediately. Scammers
ask to see a certificate or badge and
The Police Community Service
recognize this trait in older adults
take down the number. Other cities
Area can help with personal safety
president.
andRonaldmanipulatewas the 40th and towns within the area may have
readily Reagan their trust.
and property security, showing you Scammers may mention God in
aon their first season onwith
“The Golden Girls” were fast becoming friends similar regulation. Check TV.
ways to secure property and protect their presentations or even in the
gallon of gas cost one dollar officials in your city or town before
yourself from personal harm and A name of their company, offer steep and twenty cents.
you accept any door-to-door offer.
giving tips for recognizing scams
discounts for services or tell you
Always remember: If it sounds too
(see the following question).
they are specialists in a certain
good to be true, it IS too good to
The fire department will check
field (financial services, insurance,
be true!
your home for fire safety, includautomobile repair) when they are
ing smoke and carbon monoxide
not. What they say may not be true.
detectors, egress and access doors
Check people out before you sign
and electrical systems. Department anything. If the “deal” is offered on
TH
H E Y 1 9 8 WA
personnel will advise you about E Y E A R TW A S E A R 5 … S 1 9 8 5 …
Ronald Reagan was the 40th president. was the 40th president.
Ronald Reagan
loose cords, clutter and other as“The Golden
“The Golden friendswere fast becoming friends
Girls” on their
pects of home safety that can lead Girls” were fast becoming QUALITYfirst season on TV. on29 YEARS! TV.
5 STARA gallon twenty cents. OVER their first season on
FOR
to falls or other unsafe conditions.A gallon of gas cost one dollar and of gas cost one dollar and twenty cents.
Follow these recommendations as
closely as possible. They may save
your life or keep you from having a
major accident.
Don’t be afraid to call the police
Join us for
or fir