Community organizations are working towards offering senior citizen education opportunities for free. There is host of opportunities for senior citizens who want to acquire new personal or professional skills. These educational opportunities are available for free through grants and scholarship. The availability of educational opportunities may vary from region to region. In most cases scholarships are offered based on income, qualification, and other criteria. Grant money is used to pay training programs, and these are available at no cost especially to senior citizens.
Identifying Senior Educational Services
The Older Americans Act (1973) was assigned the task of providing services and opportunities to seniors to make them participate in the community activity. AAA programs include educational, employment, transportation and legal help. Computer training, craft classes and other skill developmental classes are offered to seniors. There are local programs for senior citizens, and these vary from the community needs.
University network
A network of community colleges and universities operate in the state to offer postsecondary education. Some are discounted course and yet others are free. Many states sponsor scholarship programs for seniors. It includes two-year college program for seniors over 60 years of age, and the tuition fee is free. The program and funds vary from state to state. The admissions office or the financial aid in your state can be contacted for more information. There are financial assistance program that qualifies you for aid even if you school does not qualify for one.
AARP training
AARP Foundation offers training for seniors above the age of 55 falling under low-income group. This program is offered through Senior Community Service Employment Program. The program is funded by AARP Foundation, and the grant is offered by the United States Department of Labor. It is a free senior citizen program designed to help seniors to develop job-related skills in case they prefer to reenter the workforce. There are more than 70 SCSEP programs offered by AARP Foundation.
NGO training
There are non-profit organizations offering programs for seniors to help them acquire new skills. These secure volunteer assistance and offer training to volunteer workers to help them acquire skills required to satisfy the training needs.
The challenges faced by those into their retirement age are immense. Statistics has it that 77 million baby boomers reached 65 in the year 2011 and since then every day 10,000 people are reaching the milestone. All this makes senior Americans target of financial exploitation. Financial abuses can be of many types including cheating on the credit and debit cards, stealing pension benefits, writing unauthorized checks and bank account frauds. Another form of financial abuse is in the form of using pressure tactics to purchase bonds, reverse mortgage, and insurance. Senior can be easily coerced, deceived and threatened.
Reasons for financial exploitation
Seniors are exposed to financial exploitation as their friends and family circles diminish. Age-related diseases like dementia or Alzheimer diseases are taken to the advantage of frauds. Their ability to remember and take decisions shrinks by the day. Statistics has it that Elder American is losing $3 billion to frauds. The fact is only 1 out of 44 cases are reported. Financial advisors have larger responsibility of taking proactive steps to protect their clients from financial abuses.
Signs of financial exploitation
Some of the signs to look for senior clients include, not paying bills on time, transferring financial powers to strangers without prior consent, altering wills and transferring estate planning to strangers, changing power of attorney of insurance and investment, writing cash or gifts, disappearance of money and valuable objects, cared only by those interested in client accounts. Some of the warning signs include change in investment style. Senior citizen needs more interaction and sessions with advisors are frequent.
Step to protect against financial exploitation
To protect from financial abuse always consider a direct deposit and check automated bills. Important documents like social security card, account statements, bonds, will, passport, etc. have to be safeguarded. Reference of caretakers has to be checked. Free credit report can help monitor the credit activity.
A recent senior expo in Rockford suggested a friendly learning environment for seniors. Health care, legal firms, retirement centers were present to provide answers to their questions. Senior citizens should have the information on their fingertips facilitating quick decisions. They have to be educated of about local facilities. If you want to checkout any other related info on Elderly Assisted Living.
