Cell Phones and Scamming the Elderly with Dementia/Alzheimer's
Hi all,
I am hoping to get some ideas from you all on how to deal with my mother (in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's) and her cell phone. She resides in Independent Living with assistance and will be moving to Assisted Living when an apartment opens up.
I have a spam blocker on her phone that sometimes will alert her of scams, but the scammers always find another way. We just went through a "medicare broker" tricking my mom into thinking she didn't have insurance, got her off of her PPO with one company and onto an HMO with another company (that in itself is another story). Today she is stuck on a text that she got that she is going to be charged $1500 for a TV.
She doesn't have a credit card, so there is no concern there, but she does know her SSN and that is how the insurance debacle occurred.
So, my main question is, anyone in the same boat? She needs her phone as I have to constantly remind her of things and it is her lifeline. She doesn't have a landline and I am afraid that might confuse her and add to scam calls.
She has an iphone 6. Any tricks or tips on how to keep the scammers away?
Thanks!
Block calls
We had to eventually take my mom’s phone. Call your phone company.
I get many scam
Calls. I am a senior. I caregive someone with the desease. It will only get worse. Maybe there is a way to have all calls go to you. I have my land line calls go directly to
cell when I am away from home.Raz Mobility has a special phone. The caller selects a picture of the person to call. When receiving a call picture of caller shows. Can allow calls from limited people. Can set so can’t call other numbers. All controlled from a computer, tablet or your phone. Can set quiet hours. Also a 911 service that goes to a special operator who has info on the caller. Also sends text if phone needs to be charged. Company is easy to deal with. Forget to add there are chargers available that can’t be removed from the wall. Search “Lock Socket” to see what is available. We chose one that covers the top of the charger after she tried to pry a different one out of the wall.
Thanks for sharing, Kdac, great tip! - Warmly, Donna (team member)
