Caregiver Support: Avoiding scams
Getting scammed is nearly commonplace nowadays.
I have recently had several seniors tell me they have purchased or have been solicited over the phone to purchase a stair lift for their homes. They were told Medicare would pay for it. Many people have stairs in their homes and it becomes difficult to go up and down stairs as we age. Health conditions can limit ambulation and mobility. Some of these health conditions may include arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or other disabilities. Seeking help to solve the mobility problem allows the person to stay in their home as they wish.
The concern is that the client is pressured to pay the bill by credit card or check before Medicare approves it. The problem is that Medicare may not pay for it, even though you are told by the seller of the product Medicare will. Certain criteria need to be met to qualify for any purchase paid for by Medicare. The best way to manage this situation and avoid being scammed is for you to use resources that are reliable in assisting seniors.
Before purchasing adaptive equipment or technology devices for your home environment, we recommend you contact the Disability Network of Northern Michigan (DNNM). This is a nonprofit-based agency in Traverse City that serves lower Northern Michigan communities. Their associate director is Alanna Lahey. The Disability Network of Northern Michigan has been serving people with disabilities and their families in the northern lower Michigan community since 2002. Their staff provides information, assistance, and support to people of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities.
DNNM is led by a board and staff made up mostly of people with disabilities. They will serve people with any type of disability, including those with "invisible" barriers such as learning disabilities. Instead of focusing solely on the disability, they address the needs of the whole person to achieve a more balanced life. DNNM also has an independent Living Program Specialist in Emmet County, Lacey Rouse, who can assist you on a personal and local level.
If you have a disability or limited functioning and want to see what is available to keep you in your home environment, contact the DNNM for information and resources. They will guide you to see if Medicare will cover an adaptive device or other technology and will help you with what steps to take. Contact them at disabilitynetwork.org or call (231) 922-0903.
Suzanne Holguin, RN, BSN, is assessment nurse and caregiver support group facilitator at the Friendship Centers of Emmet County.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Caregiver Support: Avoiding scams
