Problems managing money—missed mortgage or tax payments, unpaid and unopened bills, for instance—are often early indications of cognitive decline you may notice in a loved one. It also may signal that your parents or loved one needs help managing their finances. Other behaviors to watch for, according to the National Institute on Aging, include: Lots of new purchases on a credit card Unusual new merchandise Money is missing from the person’s bank account Also, watch for signs that your loved one has been scammed or financially abused. They may include: Signatures on checks or papers that don’t

Realizing that you gave remote access to your computer to a scammer can be upsetting and embarrassing.

The Canadian wildfires that blanketed New York City in smoke last month serve as a reminder that even if you live outside wildfire-prone areas, air quality and your health can be affected. Here are nine tips to protect yourself during future wildfires and improve indoor air quality. 1. Air quality report card. Get a sense of the overall health of the air by reading "State of the Air," the American Lung Association's annual national air quality ( https://www.lung.org/research/sota ) "report card." It grades cities and counties based on their scores for ozone, year-round particle pollution, and

A strong password is an excellent first step in keeping your personal information, email, and financial accounts safe.

October’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to review your computer habits to protect yourself from cybercrime. The FBI offers 5 ways to make your computer a tough target. Keep your firewall turned on. A firewall protects against hackers who could crash your computer, delete information, or steal passwords and other private information. Install or update your antivirus software. The software detects and protects you against malicious code like viruses and worms. Install or update your antispyware technology. Spyware is software secretly installed on your computer that lets

Financial problems can lead a person to be physically and emotionally ill. Many of us have been in a position when affording the mortgage or making it to the next payday were real concerns. Worrying about money can wreck a person’s well-being and a pandemic only adds to the problem. Being informed of the mortgage process and the ever-changing rules granted as a result of the pandemic is a great way to serve your clients’ needs. Many people have lost jobs or taken pay cuts due to the current health crisis. Luckily, there are options for relief out there, but some people do not know what steps

With public health organizations all but begging the public to stay home this holiday season, people are grappling with how to celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the new year safely. How risky is it to visit grandma for a holiday visit during this COVID-19 pandemic? Test the danger by using “ My COVID-19 Visit Risk” ( https://bit.ly/33xoisJ ), a new online tool developed by Toronto, Can.-based Ryerson University National Institute on Ageing. The tool relies on scientific evidence and input from experts in infectious diseases and epidemiology and walks you through a series of questions

When the Coronavirus news started spreading, normal people took steps to protect themselves and their families. Scammers spotted an opportunity. They’ve already capitalized on people’s fears with fake ads, phishing emails, and promises of miracle cures. So in addition to guarding your health, you also have to protect your computer and your wallet. Beware of links Don’t click on links from information sources you don’t know. Even if someone says they’re sending important health updates, be suspicious. Someone may be trying to install malware on your computer to steal your personal information

For scam artists, separating victims from their money is a full-time job. Unfortunately, they're very committed to and good at it. People reported losing $1.48 billion to fraud in 2018 – a 38% rise over 2017 – says Protecting Older Consumers 2017-2018: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission. No demographic group is immune, and scammers target everyone, from 20-somethings to seniors. But people aged 50-plus, particularly seniors, are uniquely appealing targets. Why? Seniors have nest eggs, own their homes, and have good credit, according to the FBI. It's also a group that tends to be more