SafeSeniorTN
Common-sense advice for protecting your finances and your personal security — written for people making the most of this season of life, not for specialists.
Resources
If you think someone is being hurt, report it.
You do not need proof and you do not need to be certain. Tennessee law asks anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult to report it. Reports can be made anonymously.
Knowledge that protects
Two tools worth knowing about
Both are free, both are Tennessee-made, and both are worth showing to the older adults and families you work with.
Recognising the signs
- Physical — unexplained bruising, injuries in different stages of healing, an explanation that keeps changing.
- Financial — sudden changes to a will or deed, a new name on an account, unpaid bills where there was always money.
- Neglect — weight loss, untreated conditions, unsafe or unsanitary living conditions.
- Isolation — a caregiver who answers every question, refuses visits, or will not leave the room.
Scam alerts
- Grandparent calls — a familiar voice in trouble, sworn to secrecy, needing money now.
- Government impersonation — no agency will ever ask to be paid in gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Tech support — a pop-up with a phone number is always a scam. Turn the machine off instead.
- Romance and investment — the relationship never meets in person, and the money always moves offshore.
Current alert bulletins are posted here in the live site.
Partner agencies
- Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationCriminal investigation and the Vulnerable Adult Registry
- Tennessee Attorney GeneralConsumer protection and fraud complaints
- AARP Fraud Watch NetworkScam-tracking map and a free helpline
- National Center on Elder AbuseResearch, training materials and state resources
East Tennessee Elder Justice Coalition
The coalition meets through the year, not just at the conference. Membership is open to anyone in the region whose work touches elder justice, and there is no fee.
A project of ETHRA and the East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability.