The Art of Aging: Our Elders, Our State

Chapel Hill AAUWMarch 20, 2010

NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH

by Mebane Rash, Attorney and Editor of North Carolina Insight

Dr. Helen Martikainen

The Demographics of Aging in North Carolina

Reprinted with permission © 2008 Darrin Bell www.candorville.com

Aging ■ Population age 65 and older will double from

1.1 million to 2.2 million by

2030.

■ In 26 counties, more than ¼ of the population will be 65 or older.

Shifts in the 65+ Age Group

2.5 times more 85 and older67 to 77 per 100 men to

women21 percent non-white

Public Policy Concerns

Financial Well-being of SeniorsRural/Urban DifferencesWork ForceFinancial Implications for the State

Fraud Against the Elderly

They Can’t Hang Up, The National Consumers League

Consumer Fraud Hot Spots

Dunn (4th) Thomasville-Lexington (11th) Salisbury (18th) New Bern (27th) Statesville-Mooresville (31st) Durham (33rd)

Fraud by Loved Ones Intentional Theft of Money Borrow Money Without Intending to

Repay Withhold Services/Medical Care to

Preserve Assets Sell Property Without Permission Misuse ATM or Credit Cards Force Signing Legal Documents

Fraud Against the ElderlyCenter Recommendations

The Definition. The N.C. Center for Public Policy recommends that the N.C. General Assembly clarify and strengthen N.C. General Statute Chapter 108A, the Protection of the Abused, Neglected, or Exploited Disabled Adult Act. The statute has not been amended since 1981, and it needs to be clarified and strengthened. The definition of abuse should include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. In keeping with the definition in the federal Older Americans Act, older adults should be defined as those 60 and over.

Fraud Against the ElderlyCenter Recommendations

The Numbers. The Center recommends that the N.C. General Assembly require reporting on the statewide incidence and prevalence of mistreatment of the elderly.

Fraud Against the ElderlyCenter Recommendations

The Role of the Banks. The Center recommends that the N.C. General Assembly establish a study commission to examine how the N.C. Commissioner of Banks, the financial management industry, and law enforcement agencies can partner to prevent fraud against the elderly. The study commission should assess whether training for bank employees can help them recognize, report, and reduce the incidence of fraud against the elderly.

Fraud Against the ElderlyCenter Recommendations

The Role of the Attorney General. The Center recommends that the N.C. General Assembly consider giving the N.C. Attorney General authority to initiate prosecutions for fraud against the elderly. Only five states do not give their Attorney General any authority to initiate local prosecutions – North Carolina, Arkansas, Connecticut, Texas, and West Virginia.

Tips to Avoid Being ScammedKnow the Scams

The NC Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/fraud/alert.htm

To learn about the scams:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/fraud/cfalert.htm

Tips for Identifying Victims1. Overnight courier services

2. Cheap prizes in the home

3. Phone bills

4. Colorful mailings in the home re: international lotteries, puzzle-solving contests

5. Questions about other countries, foreign taxes, Lloyd’s of London insurance policies, wire transfers, “barristers,” customs duties, or registering bonds overseas

6. Checking and credit card accounts

7. Unexpected or unexplained borrowing patterns; an unexpected inability to pay bills or meet living expenses.

8. A sudden reluctance to be away from home or to have visitors in the home.

What Should Victims Do?File a Complaint

Call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM In writing:

Consumer ProtectionAttorney General's OfficeMail Service Center 9001Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

On the Internet:

http://www.ncdoj.com

top issues, seniors, file a complaint

If you are concerned about someone…

Call local law enforcement. Contact adult protective services in your county

department of social services.

“Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in need of protective services shall report such information to the director.”

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local/index.htm

Scam Jams and Shred-a-Thons

Scam Jams: Events where the elderly are educated about scams.

Shred-a-Thons: Trucks with huge cross cutter shredder so people can have their documents shredded in a safe manner.

Thursday, April 22 at University Mall, near Wachovia

Saturday, May 1 at Hampton Pointe Shopping Center, Highway 86, Hillsborough, behind

Home Depot

Stop TelemarketersDo Not Call Registry

By Phone: 1-888-382-1222

By Email: http://www.donotcall.gov

Become a Fraud Fighter

The Attorney General and the AARP have partnered to train Fraud Fighters. Volunteers are paired with victims to keep them from being scammed again.

1-877-5-NO-SCAM

“Standing Up, Fighting Back”

Reprinted with permission from caglecartoons.com

Medicaid Spending• # of those eligible• Population growth generally• Expansion of provided services• Increases in life expectancy• Economic downturns• Medical advances• Very old need for extensive acute or long-term

care

Medicaid Spending in North Carolina

$9.974 billion in 2008-09 Already $250 million over budget by June

2010. Federal government has been subsidizing state

portion of Medicaid with recovery dollars. This subsidy will end in December 2010.

In 2011, Baby Boomers begin to turn 65, more will qualify for Medicaid.

Controlling Costs

Community Care of North Carolina

PACE – The Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Bill Friday“Thoughtful North Carolinians need to consider the talent pool of the elders that are living in our state. They are people of great ability. Some are people with international experience. They all have something to contribute. The question is how best to use this great accumulation of talent.”

ProspectusNorth Carolina Insight

The Art of Aging: Our Elders, Our State

1. The Demographics of Our Aging Population By John Quinterno, policy analyst

2. Fraud Against the ElderlyBy Alison Gray, attorney

3. The Civic Contributions of the Aging in North CarolinaBy Lauren Akers, policy analyst

4. Medicaid: A Key State Program Serving the ElderlyBy Christine Kushner, policy analyst

5. The Silver TsunamiBy John Quinterno, policy analyst

6. The Caretakers of Our Aging: Work Force Shortage in Health Care ProfessionsBy Aisander Duda, policy analyst

7. Long-Term Care and In-Home CareBy Donald Taylor, assistant professor of public policy at Duke University

8. Living Better, Living Longer: Preventive Care and Healthy BehaviorsBy Rah Bickley, freelance writer

9. An Aging Policy PlanBy Mebane Rash and Ran Coble

The Center’s Review Process

To catch any factual errors before publication;

To ensure that all the points of view are presented fairly;

To hone our analysis of policy issues; and To give advance notice of the Center’s

research as a courtesy to those affected by it.

The Governor’s

PolicyRoundtables

Contact Information

Mebane Rash

Attorney and Editor of North Carolina Insight

NC Center for Public Policy Research

PO Box 430

Raleigh, NC 27602

919-832-2839

mrash@nccppr.org