All too often I hear terrible stories of how a senior has been exploited, sometimes by total strangers and sometimes by relatives, even their own children! So I decided it is time to review some tips for protecting oneself from a potential tragedy. Here are some tips recommended by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office:

Be alert to individuals who seem extremely interested in your personal finances.

Do not turn over your checkbook or any other financial affairs to another person unless you have established trust in them.

NEWS FLASH! Our society is getting older! I call this a new flash in jest since almost everyone seems to know this either from the news itself or from personal experience. Every family and community in America is involved in some way with this dramatic demographic shift in our culture. Whether you are a senior citizen, a provider, a senior’s loved one or an advertiser this notion will resonate with you. Although we know this important fact, actually focusing in on specific statistics really brings the case home.

With the upcoming holidays I would like to share important information from the Oakland County Health Division:

Hot foods should be kept at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. On the buffet table, keep hot foods hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers and warming trays. Cold foods should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice and replenishing ice as it melts. Otherwise, use smaller serving dishes and exchange with cold dishes of food from the refrigerator at least every two hours.