s w e N
Comfort Keepers is northwest Michigan’s premier in-home care provider.
Keepers t r o f m o C from
®
Comfort Keepers News for Seniors, Caregivers, and Their Families in Northwest Michigan
Senior Safety: Real Estate Fraud
Scam Alert: Could your house be sold without your knowledge? Yes. How the scam works: A criminal forges your signature using a fake notary seal, adds their name to your property’s title, then sells the home to themselves and registers the sale with the county recorder’s office. Ouch!
How can I protect myself?
Family Matters: Curb the conflict
Open all mail sent to your property’s address, especially if it’s addressed to a name you don’t recognize or comes from real estate, title, or financial companies.
No adult of any age likes feeling bossed around or informed of a decision made for them, about them, without them.
How concerned should you be?
Regularly review your credit report for any suspicious activity.
According to the FBI, nearly 1,500 Americans aged 60 and older lost $65 million in real estate scams in 2023. Complaints filed by elderly victims have increased by 14 percent since 2022, and the number of reported title fraud cases has risen by 23 percent in the last two years.
The American Land Title Association advises that you call your local county recorder’s office (Register of Deeds) to request a current copy of your home's title and to inquire about the safeguards in place to protect your home against title fraud.
Family life is full of uncomfortable conversations. The two most dreaded discussions between seniors and their adult children concern the elderly parent's ability to remain in their home and continue driving.
Why target seniors? Criminals often focus on seemingly vacant properties, such as second or vacation homes, which are more likely to be owned by older adults.
Comfort Keepers Traverse City tops the fundraising charts in Walk to End Alzheimer's
Mary Maison
Congratulations to our Comfort Keepers Walk team, named the top Comfort Keepers fundraising team in the nation, raising an incredible $26,836 for the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association! A special shout-out to our outstanding Team Captain, Mary Maison, whose leadership and enthusiasm kept the momentum going. Contact Mary at (231) 929-9044 for 2025 Walk information. Please join us! (See insert for Walk details)
Be mindful that a “fiercely independent” senior may appear the most stubborn when feeling their freedom slipping away. Similarly, a “controlling” adult child may seem the most stubborn when feeling pulled into time commitments they can’t possibly meet.
Our Advice: • Don’t try to “win”; seek to solve. • Center your attention on building confidence that you fully understand their perspective. Aim to deeply comprehend their needs and fears by echoing what they say before advancing the conversation. • Be open to a resolution you have not considered.