Scam Watch

Scroll on down to the blue Scam Watch section to stay safe! Each month we highlight a type of scam and list some steps you can take to keep yourself, and those around you, from becoming a victim.

This month is focused on Reverse Mortgage Scams.

Important April Dates:

• The County and all Senior Centers will be closed on the following days this month:
  Friday, April 18, 2025, for Good Friday.
• Senior Centers will be closed on the following days this month:
  Thursday, April 17, 2025, for the Spring Fling.
• The next meeting for the Caregiver's Support Group is on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. See the flyer under the SAVE THE DATE for more info.

Resource Highlights

Maryland Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use

The Maryland Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use program is operated through the Maryland Department of Aging, which provides FREE durable medical equipment to Marylanders with any illness, injury, or disability, regardless of age, at no cost. All equipment is collected via donation and is sanitized, repaired, and redistributed to Marylanders in need. Click HERE to visit their website and learn more.

Maryland Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)

The Maryland MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a crucial tool used in healthcare settings to document and honor a patient's preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments, including decisions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, and other interventions. It ensures that these preferences are clearly communicated and respected by healthcare providers across different settings, from hospitals to long-term care facilities to home care.

The order form may be signed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.

For a copy and more information about the MOLST form please go to www.marylandmolst.org or ask your medical provider for a copy of the form.

Upcoming Events

Don't miss out on our exciting upcoming events where you can meet new friends, try new activities, and have a blast!

^{SAVE THE DATE: Caregiver's Support Group}

If you are a caregiver that wants a place to talk about your experiences, pass on some of your knowledge, or help support others in your position that might be having a rough time, then please consider joining the Caregiver's Support Group. Meetings will be held in the Active Aging Center located at 210 Vincit Street, Centreville MD, on every second Tuesday of the month at 1 pm. For more information, please call 410-758-0848 Ext. 2703 or email.

^{SAVE THE DATE: Getting to Know Dementia - a Free Virtual Training}

Beth Hobson, Positive Approach to Care Certified Independent Coach, from Aging at Home Solution will be facilitating a free virtual training focused on Positive Approach to Care every Wednesday starting on March 5th through April 16th from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm. This training is appropriate for all who are curious about dementia, such as family, care aides, facility care staff, health care professionals, volunteers, and faith communities. The course is designed to encourage experiential learning and discovery rather than traditional lectures. Space is limited. For more information, please contact Julia Stokes at 410-758-0848 EXT 2703 or jstokes@qac.org. 

^{SAVE THE DATE: Spring Fling}

Join us for a rock'in time at the QAC Active Aging & Senior Center Spring Fling! This 50s retro style party includes a hotdog lunch with sides and ice cream with music by Tim Amann. Taking place on April 17 from 11:00am - 3:00pm at the Kent Island Senior Center. Tickets can be purchased at all four QAC Active Aging/Senior Center locations with payment due at time of sign-up. Space is limited and sales stop on April 4th, so sign-up while available! See the flyer below for more information. 

^{SAVE THE DATE: Spirit Week}

Show some spirit with us! In the month of May, from the 12th to the 16th, join your friends and Senior Center staff in flipping the script on aging by participating in Spirit Week. Each day is a new theme and is capped off by attending the annual Senior Summit in your dazzling dresses and sharpest suits from the Roaring Twenties (participation optional for attendance). See the flyer below for how to join in the fun and coordinate your attire.

^{SAVE THE DATE: Senior Summit}

Next month is our long anticipated Senior Summit! Taking place at the QAC 4-H Park on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 9 AM to 2 PM. Please read the flyer below for information regarding events and other important information. We hope to see you there!

County Ride

Need a ride? Look no further! County Ride is here to make transportation a breeze. Whether you're heading to a doctor's appointment, the grocery store, or just out and about, our team is dedicated to providing quality transit services for all. 

To contact County Ride for more information, or to schedule a ride, call 410-758-2357 Monday - Friday, 6 AM - 5 PM, or send an email. 

View County Ride Schedules

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Scam Watch

Stay up to date with the latest news on scams, fraud alerts, and telemarketing hazards. Check back every month to help educate yourself on potential dangers and how to best handle them. To learn more, please visit the FDIC Consumer Resource Center.

Reverse Mortgage Fraud

This month, we are going to cover a topic that can make some people uneasy, Reverse Mortgages. While reverse mortgages are perfectly legal and can be a viable way to convert equity in your home into a supplemental income, there are lots of risks associated with it, and reverse mortgages aren't for everyone.

For those who don't know, a reverse mortgage is a special type of loan that allows homeowners age 62 and older to borrow against the equity in their homes. It's called a “reverse” mortgage because unlike a mortgage where you take out a loan and gradually pay it back, a reverse mortgage — as the name implies — works in the opposite way. Your mortgage lender makes loan payments to you, based on a percentage of the value of your home, either in a lump sum, monthly installments or a line of credit (or a combination of these options). Instead of paying down a loan, your debt grows, and you don’t pay it back until you sell or move out of your home or pass away.

Because of how difficult to navigate these types of loans are, scammers can take advantage of borrowers in ways you might not expect. In most cases, reverse mortgage scams hinge on the lender and other people involved in the process, not the actual loan itself. These could be things like a family member pressuring an older adult to take out a reverse mortgage so that they can "borrow money" and never pay them back or those who "require" older borrowers to sign a power of attorney or sign proceeds away to a "loan officer or other agent" to make future "disbursals." This can also include brokers who pressure or fraudulently require the borrower to purchase annuities, insurance, or other financial products with their proceeds so they can earn additional commissions.

^{Some ways to combat this type of fraud:}

• Watch out for "Red Flags." Some key actions and phrases to look out for when discussing a reverse mortgage are:
  • If they tell you "it's free money" or that it will solve your financial problems with no downsides.
  • The lender can't clearly explain how the process works, advises you to not speak to anyone else about the mortgage or sends you unsolicited offers.
  • If they try to charge you upfront fees to get information or sell you additional financial products/tell you that you must buy additional products to take out the loan.
  • If they try to pressure you in any way into making a decision or sign documents that they haven't fully filled out first or let you have a copy of.
• There are many ways this scam can appear and many sources of both legitimate and illegitimate sources that operate these types of loans. Overall, if you hear about an offer and haven't reached out to inquire with that specific lender about a reverse mortgage, don't reply.
• If you are interested in taking out a reverse mortgage, always be sure to consult with your current lender AND a trusted, independent, financial advisor before making any decisions or signing any documents. Shop around to get the best deal and try to speak with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-certified housing counselor.

Connect With Us!

Looking for more ways to stay active and independent? Our Area Agency on Aging offers a variety of programs and activities to support seniors like you. To learn more about becoming a member, reach out to your local Senior Center or visit our website for more information.

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