STAY SOCIAL, STAY SAFE 3 Ways Older Adults Can Safely Use Social Media You may choose to use social media to connect with your family, find a community of like-minded hobbyists, or stay informed, but scammers are just as active! Older adults are among the most vulnerable populations that people scam, and a lack of digital education for aging adults has created gaps in smart and safe social media usage. Protect yourself and stay connected with these three key reminders that are great for using social media as you age! Update your privacy. Every social media platform has privacy settings that allow you to control what others can see on your profile. On Facebook, you can examine what other users see on your profile by doing a privacy checkup, which allows you to update any settings you want to change. This may include viewing what people who are not your friends can see as well as checking your advertisement preferences. Be sure to perform similar checkups on other platforms. Only friend people you know — usually! Only accept requests from people you know, and if you are unsure if the person “friend requesting” you is the person you think they are, verify this with that person. There is a caveat though: Scammers will re-create social media profiles by using photos they find from existing profiles. So, if you receive a friend request from someone you know or think you are already friends with through that social media outlet, don’t accept the new request. And if you do, don’t respond to any messages from this profile without first verifying who the person is with a text message or phone call. If you do suspect that a scammer is trying to impersonate someone you know, you can always file a report with the social media provider, and they can look into the issue for you. Think before you post. Often, the rule is “if you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it, don’t post it to social media!” But what is the rule when you are the grandmother? Try this: Don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t want someone else to use. Before every post, do a quick scan. Is there anything in the post that could put you at risk? Is there anything you would be embarrassed to share, or are there disturbing items in the background? If the answer is yes, it’s best not to post this specific information.
ou Actually Want to Do!
discredit the act of gardening as “work.” Creating your own personal garden can be a welcome escape and offer a respite space. A local nursery can help you get started, if you need expert advice from people who really know your area.
Bird-watching: Admittedly, this activity involves a little walking, but birdwatching is an easy way to move and learn more about our community. You may worry that bird-watching will officially classify you as “old,” but we encourage you to think about it as a scientific obligation! Audubon societies rely on the observations from local bird watchers to track, predict, and research bird populations. Learn more at PA.Audubon.org.
Bags: Calling all card players! Why not take your gaming skill set outdoors and join a bags (or cornhole) league? Bags is a low- impact game that sparks competition, teamwork, and mathematical understanding. You can join a league with your friends or sign up to meet new people! Find local tournaments and leagues by joining the PA Cornhole Tournament Calendar group on Facebook.
PECAN CREAM PIE
Ingredients
• • • •
1 9-inch uncooked pie crust 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup powdered sugar 2 8-oz bars of cream cheese, softened
• • •
1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans, divided
Directions
1. Cook pie crust according to package instructions. 2. In a small bowl, combine heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat for several minutes with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. 3. In a separate larger bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Beat together until combined and creamy. 4. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and stir together until combined. Stir in 1 cup of chopped pecans. 5. With a spatula, spread mixture into the baked and cooled pie crust. Sprinkle the remaining pecans on top of the pie. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving. Inspired by TogetherAsFamily.com
If you or a loved one are the victim of a scam or have been approached by a scammer online, please report it at FTC.gov.
724.256.8850
3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator