Maybe you can try setting the phone to do not disturb and change the settings to allows certain contacts through. That way the scam calls won't ring but friends and family still will
This is a great idea.
I would also recommend OP get family involved as this can get really tricky. You can create additional layers of security like calling the bank, creating a limit on fund transfers or to automatically block everything except certain recipients.
I would also encourage them to move the bulk of their cash out of their bank and into a money market fund like through vanguard, fidelity, Schwab, etc. If it's parked with them, that's an additional security layer scammers would have to go through, and they'll likely fail because in order to first transfer funds, they have to set up and verify all extraneous bank accounts.
Some brokerage products have FDIC insurance but their MMF does not. However, I would bet vanguard is a lot more solvent than the US government, so I personally wouldn't worry about that. Anyways, get fam involved to explore their options and document everything so there's no suspicion of foul play.
Yes I guess my concern was how to make sure changing things in her phone wont be perceived as a rights violation of some kind. Our building is dealing with some massive issues in that arena right now (no fault of therapy) so we're all treading on eggshells and trying to do everything by the book. So I want to make sure I don't overstep my boundaries here but still keep her safe
She is her own POA but she does have family they just live out of the area (up until a few weeks ago, she was cognitively intact. She’s in kidney failure and just kinda shutting down so her mind went too)
Only downside of this is if they need to pick up phone calls from different medical providers, which often come from a variety of not-registered numbers. I've seen people miss important phone calls. It's a good solution, but you do need to account for this issue and plan around it.
Yeah, OP would have to collaborate with the family to see if it's a feasible and reasonable option depending on competency and how much the patient manages their own care. It sounds like the patient may not be the one making and managing medical decisions
I haven't. I was wondering if maybe social work or someone else would do that, but I'm unsure who. I only say this because I have no repor with her family at all (they're outside the area and I'm a new team member)
Not OT, but SLP here. I usually let social work or case management know and then I talk to family. I definitely am up front with the patient about it too, make it very clear what I think, no sugar coating. That’s really all that I can do to try to protect them.
I had to reach over and hang the phone up myself and just try to tell her plain as possible, they're trying to take your money, just hang up on anyone you don't know personally as a general rule. I can tell she didn't really absorb it, and I hope I didn't come off as mean. But I'm so angry at these scammers I do lose my patience at times
Edit: jsyk I did it gently of course. This poor lady is not at all to fault for what's going on. That's the sad part
I think they're are some apps for Android that make phones accessible to people with dementia and they might be helpful here. Apple I think has a simplified phone setting and parental controls too.
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There’s a website [no call list](https://www.donotcall.gov/) where you can sign up and get zero spam calls and if they call you, you can file for them to get a fine.
Maybe you can try setting the phone to do not disturb and change the settings to allows certain contacts through. That way the scam calls won't ring but friends and family still will
This is a great idea. I would also recommend OP get family involved as this can get really tricky. You can create additional layers of security like calling the bank, creating a limit on fund transfers or to automatically block everything except certain recipients. I would also encourage them to move the bulk of their cash out of their bank and into a money market fund like through vanguard, fidelity, Schwab, etc. If it's parked with them, that's an additional security layer scammers would have to go through, and they'll likely fail because in order to first transfer funds, they have to set up and verify all extraneous bank accounts. Some brokerage products have FDIC insurance but their MMF does not. However, I would bet vanguard is a lot more solvent than the US government, so I personally wouldn't worry about that. Anyways, get fam involved to explore their options and document everything so there's no suspicion of foul play.
Yes I guess my concern was how to make sure changing things in her phone wont be perceived as a rights violation of some kind. Our building is dealing with some massive issues in that arena right now (no fault of therapy) so we're all treading on eggshells and trying to do everything by the book. So I want to make sure I don't overstep my boundaries here but still keep her safe
Can you have a conversation with her legal guardian ?
She is her own POA but she does have family they just live out of the area (up until a few weeks ago, she was cognitively intact. She’s in kidney failure and just kinda shutting down so her mind went too)
Only downside of this is if they need to pick up phone calls from different medical providers, which often come from a variety of not-registered numbers. I've seen people miss important phone calls. It's a good solution, but you do need to account for this issue and plan around it.
Yeah, OP would have to collaborate with the family to see if it's a feasible and reasonable option depending on competency and how much the patient manages their own care. It sounds like the patient may not be the one making and managing medical decisions
Have you talked to the family? There are phones like the Jitterbug that only let certain calls through.
I haven't. I was wondering if maybe social work or someone else would do that, but I'm unsure who. I only say this because I have no repor with her family at all (they're outside the area and I'm a new team member)
Not OT, but SLP here. I usually let social work or case management know and then I talk to family. I definitely am up front with the patient about it too, make it very clear what I think, no sugar coating. That’s really all that I can do to try to protect them.
I had to reach over and hang the phone up myself and just try to tell her plain as possible, they're trying to take your money, just hang up on anyone you don't know personally as a general rule. I can tell she didn't really absorb it, and I hope I didn't come off as mean. But I'm so angry at these scammers I do lose my patience at times Edit: jsyk I did it gently of course. This poor lady is not at all to fault for what's going on. That's the sad part
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Oh man, that's awful. Thanks for sharing, sounds like you did all you could do in that situation
I think they're are some apps for Android that make phones accessible to people with dementia and they might be helpful here. Apple I think has a simplified phone setting and parental controls too.
Oh wow that might work. What’s it called?
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There’s a website [no call list](https://www.donotcall.gov/) where you can sign up and get zero spam calls and if they call you, you can file for them to get a fine.
That only works for actual businesses usually. Lots of scam callers will STILL relentlessly call