The DA's office wants to help seniors avoid abuse and fraud. Here are some tips.

WESTPORT — Hundreds of people gathered at White’s of Westport on Friday for a conference aimed at raising awareness about elder abuse and fraud.

The office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III hosts the annual Bristol County Celebration of Seniors conference, which includes speakers and a resource fair with tables from dozens of area organizations that provide services to seniors.

“People need to feel safe and secure in their communities, otherwise we have no community,” Quinn said during Friday’s event.

As DA, Quinn has launched a unit within his office dedicated to investigating and prosecuting elder financial fraud and abuse.

The conference was co-sponsored by Coastline Elderly Services, an area nonprofit that provides at-home care to older adults.

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse applies to anyone over the age of 60. It can affect people of all races and genders, said Taryn Lee-Turgeon, Assistant Director of Protective Services for the state’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

“Nobody is not at risk from suffering from elder abuse,” she said.

Elder abuse can include emotional, physical or sexual abuse, financial abuse, which is when a family member or caretaker steals money from an older person, neglect, or self-neglect, which is when a person fails to address their own basic needs like eating enough food or seeking necessary healthcare.

“If someone’s behavior is starting to affect your day-to-day wellbeing, that is abuse,” Lee-Turgeon said.

What should you do if you think elder abuse is happening?

Anyone who suspects an older person is being abused in any way can make a report by calling the state’s elder abuse hotline at 800-922-2275 or through the state’s website.

Even if you’re not certain that a situation is abusive, filing a report can trigger an investigation to determine the truth, Lee-Turgeon said.

Mike Festa, state director of AARP Massachusetts, said it might feel emotionally painful or embarrassing to report fraud or abuse happening against yourself, but that abuse victims shouldn’t refrain from making a report if they think it’s needed, even against a family member.

“The truth of the matter is that the greatest protection for those who commit fraud is you being scared to report it,” he said.

How can seniors avoid health care fraud or scams?

Lucilia Prates, statewide director of MA Senior Medicare Patrol, said healthcare errors and Medicare fraud and abuse cost U.S. taxpayers $60 billion annually.

The best way seniors can avoid mistakes or scams with their heath care is by carefully keeping track of everything that happens to them medically, she said.

Seniors should keep a healthcare journal that chronologically tracks all of their interactions with the healthcare system, she said. When a doctor suggests a procedure or treatment, always ask about potential risks, side effects and alternatives. And, Medicare recipients should always read any notices they receive about their benefits.

“You need to be engaged with your health care,” she said.

What are some other ways to stay safe from elder fraud?

Quinn said his office has dealt with cases involving scams where someone calls an older person saying that one of their loved ones has been arrested and needs thousands of dollars in order to be released.

“People are parting with their hard-earned money,” he said.

The IRS or other government agencies will never call you directly, he told attendees. One sure way to avoid scams and frauds: don’t answer the phone to unknown numbers or respond to emails or electronic messages from people you don’t know.

Quinn encouraged people to report attempted or successful fraud attempts to the police or his office.

“Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed,” he said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: DA Quinn hosts conference on avoiding senior abuse and fraud