ConsumerAffairs.Com News for Seniors http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news_index/seniors.html Scams, lawsuits, prosecutions and warnings from ConsumerAffairs.Com en-us Copyright 2004 ConsumerAffairs.Com info@consumeraffairs.com (Truman Lewis) jhood@consumeraffairs.com (Jim Hood) http://backend.userland.com/rss Seniors Lose 51% of Buying Power Since 2000 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/seniors_finances.html Cost-of-living adjustments don't keep up with inflation. 10 Million Boomers Face Alzheimer's http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/03/alzheimers_boomers.html Caseload likely to more than double as population ages. Robotic Dog a Good Companion For Seniors? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/robots.html Nursing home study finds no difference between robots and real dogs. Retirees May Face Unexpected Lifestyle Changes http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/retirement_lifestyle.html Rising cost of health care threatens seniors' financial security. Payday Lenders Targeting Seniors http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/payday_seniors.html Report finds lenders clustering near senior housing. Seniors Should be Wary of Reverse Mortgage Scams http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/fl_reverse_mortgage.html Scams involving reverse mortgages becoming common. Tax Breaks for Family Caregivers http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/tax_caregivers.html Elderly parents may qualify as dependents. Fast-Acting Alzheimer's Therapy Excites Researchers http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/alzheimer_tnf.html New therapy gets results within minutes, study claims. Electric Mobility Settles Misrepresentation Charges http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/wa_mobility.html Rascal Scooter sales practices challenged by Washington state. California Shuts Down Annuity Sales Scam http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/ca_annuity_scam.html Salesmen posed as lawyers, preyed on vulnerable seniors. Sensitivity to Caffeine Increases with Age http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/geezer045.html Seniors may have to cut back, or even eliminate, caffeine from their diet. Time to Have an Important Talk with Elderly Parents http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/parent_talk.html Holiday togetherness offers a chance to catch up on vital matters. Too Much Sugar May Increase Alzheimer’s Risk http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/sugar_alzheimers.html Exact mechanism unknown but research highlights risk. Feds List Worst Nursing Homes http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/worst_nursing_homes.html 52 facilities make the 'worst of the worst' list. Suit Seeks Medicare Coverage of 'Off-Label' Drugs http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/medicare_suit.html Seniors going without needed medication, suit charges. Social Security, Medicare Raises Set for January http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/medicare_d.html Retirees get the smallest increase in four years, just 2.3%. More Alcoholism in Retirement Communities? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/geezer040.html Alcoholism widespread but often misdiagnosed in seniors. Scam Targets Elderly Seeking Tax Help http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/irs_scam.html Victims lose money and risk identity theft. Promising Alzheimer’s Discovery Reported http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/alzheimer_protein.html Protein reverses learning problems in mice. HIV/AIDS Growing Rapidly Among Seniors http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/geezer035.html Infection rate rising faster among adults 50+ than in those under 40. Mediterranean Diet May Extend Alzheimer’s Patients’ Lives http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/alzheimer_diet.html Earlier study finds Mediterranean diet lowers risk of developing Alzheimer's. Seniors' Fear of Falling Keeps Life Alert Flush http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/lifealert_folo.html Former U.S. Surgeon General cashes in on seniors' fears. Erectile Dsyfunction Affects All Ages http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/ed.html Most men don't talk about it, which only makes things worse. Craftmatic Settles Florida Charges http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/fl_craftmatic.html Agrees to reform sales practices, pay restitution to consumers. Seniors Targeted by Bogus 'Census' http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/census_scam.html Mailer asks for information ... and credit card numbers. Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/07/geezer028.html Old age might not be a barrel of laughs but depression's not normal and should be treated. Hip Protectors Don’t Protect Elderly In Falls: Study http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/07/seniors_hip.html Seniors might as well save their money, researchers report. Nursing Home Residents Get Less Vision Care http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/07/nursing_home_eye.html Two-thirds of residents in Alabama study had no record of eye exams. When Does Menopause Really Begin? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/07/geezer025.html The Healthy Geezer answers readers' questions about health and aging. FDA Approves Computerized Pill Box http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/pill_box.html Electronic medication manager aims to reduce medication errors. Insurance Companies Pledge Medicare Marketing Reforms http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/medicare_marketing.html Companies accused of abusive tactics in signing up seniors. Senate Eyes Medicare Advantage Marketing Abuses http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/senate_medicare_advantage.html Deceptive sales practices and outright fraud reported. Risk of Diabetes Increases with Age http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/geezer018.html Not everyone expriences symptoms so regular check-ups important for seniors. Seniors Bear Brunt Of Predatory Lending http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/seniors_predatory.html Seniors losing their homes to predatory refinance scams. Consumer Reports Pushes For Generic Cholesterol Drug Use http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/cu_statins.html Consumer group counters campaign by Pfizer to encourage use of higher-priced Lipitor. Note to Seniors: Grapefruit Juice Can Cause Trouble http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/geezer008_grapefruit.html It can interact with prescription medications and make them ineffective or harmful. Loneliness Associated With Increased Risk of Dementia http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/loneliness_alzheimers.html Study finds lonely adults more likely to develop Alzheimer's-like dementia in old age. Do Older People Need More Sleep? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/geezer004_sleep.html Columnist Fred Cicetti answers questions about seniors' health concerns. AARP Launches Annuity Program for its Members http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/aarp_annuity.html Program offers guaranteed income for life to AARP's 37 million members. Do Grandparents Get More Colds? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/geezer03_colds.html Good question. The Healthy Geezer has the answer. Older Adults Vulnerable to Refractures, Study Finds http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/seniors_fractures.html Men and women both at risk of subsequent fractures. Minnesota Charges Allianz Life Sold Unsuitable Annuities to Seniors http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/mn_allianz.html Lawsuit claims company's agents exploited elderly clients. Bernanke: Aging Boomers Are the "Calm Before The Storm" http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/bernanke_boomers.html Time to reform Social Security is long past, Fed chief warns. Study Finds "Tremendous" Disparity In Medicare Prescription Drug Prices http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/medicare_rx_prices.html People in poorest areas often wind up paying the most for their prescriptions. Mental Exercise May Help Seniors http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/seniors_exercise.html Study finds cognitive training helps seniors stave off dementia. Scammers Exploit Medicare Open Enrollment http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/medicare_scam.html Callers claiming to represent Medicare try to get seniors' credit card numbers. Seniors Targeted On Behalf Of "Notch Fairness Act" http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/scam_notch_fairness.html Fund-raising appeals aren't technically illegal, but they're definitely misleading. Oldest and Sickest at Risk as Medicare Juggles Rules http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/medicare_dual_eligibles.html "Dual eligibles" won't be automatically enrolled in drug benefit program next year. Vegetables May Slow Memory Loss http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/memory_vegetables.html No similar effect found for fruit. North Carolina Shuts Down Living Trust Scheme http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/nc_living_trust.html Seniors bilked out of their life savings, state charges. Report: Shopping Around Beats Medicare Drug Prices http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/rx_shopping.html Medicare clients could do better on their own, Consumers Union report finds. Feds Give Up on Canadian Drug Crackdown http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/drugs_canada.html Customs agents will no longer seize Grandma's prescription. Confusion Ahead: New Medicare Plans for 2007 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/medicare_2007.html Just when seniors thought they had it figured out, here comes a new round of confusing options. Seniors Bemoan "Donut Day" - Medicare Drug Coverage Stops for Millions http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/medicare_donut.html Millions of elderly Americans find themselves without prescription drug coverage today.