EverSafe Newsletter
SENIOR FINANCIAL PROTECTION NEWS
Providing thought-provoking articles, commentary and general information on issues related to aging and financial health.
SCAM ALERT
MOVEit Breach Affects Tens of Millions
You may have recently received a letter relating to a breach of your personal information – from your investment firm, insurance company, airlines, or doctor’s office. A recent breach called MOVEit has touched at least 60 million Americans in the last few months. This hack started with the compromise of sensitive data at a single US software company, called Progress, according to 
Reuters. Their MOVEit service claims to provide “secure collaboration and automated file transfers of sensitive data and advanced workflow automation capabilities without the need for scripting.” The problem is that this service is used by organizations that provide data handling to other organizations. Given the snake-like spread by affected organizations that are handling data on behalf of others, who “in turn got the data from third parties,” this breach has been called one of the largest in recent history. “We are just in the very, very early stage of this,” according to Marc Bleicher, chief technology officer of the incident response firm Surefire Cyber. “I think we’ll start to see the real impact and fallout down the road.”
In the meantime, families should take proactive steps to help ensure that this breach doesn’t wreak havoc on their finances. EverSafe provides round-the-clock protection to families, sending alerts to adult children and fiduciaries (i.e. advisors, attorneys, POAs) for erratic activity in loved ones’ and clients’ linked financial accounts, credit cards, credit data, real estate records, and the Dark Web.
Extreme Heat & Age
A BAD COMBINATION
The wave of extreme high temperatures last month presented dangers unique to older adults, as they are more vulnerable to heat-related health problems, according to the CDC. This summer, many cities throughout the US observed temperatures of over 100 degrees. Weeks of unusually high temperatures drew concerns not only about climate change, but the impact these 
weather changes will have on our rapidly growing aging population. Older adults have historically been drawn to states with higher temperatures, where outdoor activities like golf and the beach were once a draw. For older adults, the heat waves carry significant risks. Older adults are less efficient at cooling down. Heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease are often exacerbated by heat stress. For older adults with breathing difficulties, poor air quality is particularly dangerous. In Maricopa county, there were a total of 404 deaths of Arizonians that are now confirmed or suspected to have been heat-related – just this year. So what steps should older adults take to protect themselves? Be aware that chronic medical conditions are worsened by heat. Make sure that you and your older loved ones have an emergency plan to stay with someone, if necessary, in a heat emergency. In many cities, there are local cooling centers available to people who find themselves without air conditioning – knowing where they are located may be a life-saver.
GOVERNMENT / LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
ACS EXPANDING ITS FOCUS ON SENIORS
The US Administration for Community Living (“ACL”), under the US Department of Health and Human Services, supports the needs of the aging and disability populations and improves access to health care and long-term services. From June 16 to August 15, 2023, ACL collected and compiled input on proposed updates to the regulations for most of its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. The proposal marks the first substantial update to most OAA program regulations in 35 years. As stated by the agency:
The world has changed dramatically since the current OAA regulations were established. The population of older adults has nearly doubled, and older adults are living longer than ever before. Their expectations for aging are different from those of earlier generations. Increased understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health is reshaping health care, as non-medical services that help people avoid hospitalization and institutional care – like those provided through OAA programs – are increasingly being incorporated into health care service delivery models. In addition, the OAA has been amended by Congress seven times since 1988. The proposed rule aims to align regulations to the current statute and reflect the needs of today’s older adults.
The proposal from ACL was the result of many years of engagement with the national aging network and information received through a formal request for information and a series of listening sessions that included formal tribal consultations. ACL sought feedback on the proposal from all who are interested in improving the implementation of OAA programs and services.
Concerned About Memory Loss?
SCIENTISTS LOOK AT THE BENEFITS OF FRAGRANCE
A fascinating study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience and published last month, found that there is a connection between smell and memory. The research was conducted by scientists at the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory. Participants in this research, men and women who were age 60 to 85 without memory impairment, were given “a diffuser and seven cartridges, each containing a single and different natural oil.” They slept with a fragrance wafting through their bedrooms for two hours a night for six months. Interestingly, their memories rose steadily. Neuroscientists reported a 226% increase in cognitive capacity compared to the control group. Researchers believe that these results confirm the long-recognized link between smell and memory. And fragrance therapy may end up serving as an easy, holistic technique for strengthening memory and potentially deterring dementia.
