create higher losses of money. 28 Between 2021 and 2022, romance scams rose by 13% for older adults and resulted in a loss of $240 million. 29 Our Rights and Benefits program works to help older adults understand the warning signs of fraud. Remaining in contact with the Attorney General’s office and various law enforcement agencies, we regularly release information about how to spot and avoid potential scams. Technology presents huge opportunities for aging service providers and older adults to connect, with many services from doctor’s forms to grocery shopping being available online. With this increased access, it is incumbent upon us all to recognize the importance of providing off-line accessibility for those not yet comfortable with expanded technology. For many of our community’s most vulnerable older adults, technology requires training, assistance setting up, and an understanding of how to navigate various software platforms. Though online portals and forums are a solution to obtaining
important information, they should not become the only solution. Older technologies such as telephones and mail should still be accessible for those older adults in need. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff has worked at a local and state level to ensure that the rights and needs of older adults are represented in discussions about expansion of services into online formats–particularly when it relates to health care and social care settings. These are some of the activities we will
Barriers to Technology by Age Group
Unreliable internet, slow connection
Cost of internet service
Cost of wifi-enabled devices
Navigating and using websites, apps, and technology No wifi-enabled devices
Data and information safety
continue to participate in to ensure accessibility through all technology channels: • Build out content for The Virtual Katie Dusenberry Healthy Aging Center, including trainings and videos about safe usage of technology. • Identifying and promoting information so older adults can avoid fraud and scams. • Working with health care systems, nonprofit organizations, and government partners to ensure that accessibility to services is not solely reliant on internet access–even if that is the primary option for signing up. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 90+ 70-79 60-69 50-59 80-89
28 (Protecting Older Consumers Report, 2020) 29 (Senior Scam Statistics 2024: Is Elder Fraud on the Rise?, 2024)
A Report to the Community
Pima Council on Aging
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