Massachusetts - Greater Boston

As we age, life should still be full of excitement and discovery. Many seniors find themselves at a crossroads, whether due to retirement, empty nesting, or simply a desire for new experiences. At A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we believe that exploring new passions and hobbies can breathe fresh energy into life, fostering joy, fulfillment, and meaningful connections. Engaging in activities that pique your interest can not only enrich your daily routine but also help you discover hidden talents and cultivate new friendships. Lets explore how seniors can embark on exciting adventures to explore new hobbies and passions, ensuring that every season of life is vibrant and fulfilling.Rediscovering Yourself Through HobbiesHobbies are not just a way to pass the time; they are a gateway to self-discovery and personal growth. Heres why diving into new interests can positively impact your well-being:Emotional BenefitsBoosts Mood and Confidence: Engaging in activities you enjoy can lift your spirits and improve your overall sense of happiness. Discovering a new hobby can also enhance your self-esteem as you learn new skills and see tangible progress.Reduces Stress: Immersing yourself in a passion or creative outlet can act as a healthy escape from everyday stress. Whether it's painting, gardening, or photography, these activities provide a sanctuary that encourages relaxation and mindfulness.Social BenefitsBuilds Connections: Exploring new hobbies often introduces you to like-minded individuals who share your interests. These new friendships can add depth to your social life, providing companionship and support.Strengthens Community Ties: Many activities involve group gatherings, workshops, or clubs, fostering a sense of community. Being part of a collective pursuit encourages belonging and camaraderie among peers.Tips for Exploring New Passions and HobbiesEmbarking on a journey to discover new interests may seem overwhelming, but with a few practical steps, you can easily find a hobby that resonates with you. Here are some tips to get started:Step 1: Reflect on Your InterestsThink About Your Passions: Consider what activities youve enjoyed in the past, or even things youve always wanted to try. Make a list of interests, both old and new. This reflection can help you identify hobbies that could reignite your passion.Explore Different Areas: Dont be afraid to branch out! Think outside the boxcrafting, cooking, gardening, sports, or music are just a few areas to consider. Websites like Meetup can help you discover local groups focused on various hobbies or interests.Step 2: Start SmallChoose Accessible Activities: Start with hobbies that require minimal investmentboth in terms of time and money. Trying out an inexpensive class at a community center or using online resources can help you gauge your interest without feeling overwhelmed.Set Realistic Goals: Allow yourself to enjoy the learning process without the pressure of perfection or mastery. Setting small, attainable goals can help maintain motivation and build confidence over time.Step 3: Embrace Learning and GrowthTake Classes or Workshops: Look for local classes or workshops in your area that align with your interests. Many community centers and libraries offer a range of educational opportunities designed specifically for seniors.Use Online Resources: The internet is full of tutorials, webinars, and communities dedicated to almost every passion. Websites and platforms like YouTube and Skillshare make it easy to learn new skills from the comfort of your home.Step 4: Connect with OthersJoin Clubs or Groups: Seek out local clubs or organizations that focus on hobbies you enjoy. Connecting with others who share your interest fosters a sense of camaraderie and adds social enjoyment to your pursuits.Invite Family and Friends: Encourage loved ones to join you in exploring new hobbies. Whether it's a painting night, cooking together, or starting a book club, sharing the experience creates lasting memories and strengthens bonds.Step 5: Make Time for Your HobbiesSchedule Regular Time: Jay Shetty once said, You create your schedule. Commit to your passions just like you would a meeting or a commitment. Carve out specific times each week to focus on your chosen interests; this ensures consistent engagement, keeping the passion alive.Create a Dedicated Space: If possible, design a dedicated space for your hobbies. Whether its a small corner for crafts or a spot for gardening supplies, having a designated area can help you stay organized and inspired.Conclusion: Embrace the Adventure of New PassionsAt A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we champion the idea that every stage of life holds opportunities for exploration and growth. As you embark on this exciting adventure of discovering new passions and hobbies, remember that the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Each new activity offers a chance to learn, to connect, to laugh, and to embrace the richness of life.By taking small stepsreflecting on your interests, exploring new activities, connecting with others, and making time for your pursuitsyou can fill your days with joy and fulfillment. So go forth and explore the many adventures that await you; the world is filled with possibilities just waiting for you to discover. If you need support in organizing your new hobby space or managing your time effectively, reach out to us at A Call to Order Professional Organizer. Together, we can help you create an environment that encourages exploration and adventure at every turn. Happy exploring!

When was the last time you looked at how much youre paying for your home service subscriptions?Most people sign up for monthly subscription services like cable, internet, home phone, and cell phone,and rarely revisit them to see whether they could be paying less, or which of these services theyre actually using.Home service companies use several tactics to take advantage of customers.First, they often offer inexpensive introductory rates for services and increase the price after thefirst year.  This gets customers signed up before the price shoots up to the normal rate when they arent monitoringthe bill.Second, they often require customers to bundle services. There might be an excellent deal on home phoneservice, but to get it, you must sign up for a service youre not using (like internet).Third, service providers will sell high margin, add-on products that customers are unlikely to use, increasing the total price of the service.This is especially true with cell phone providers, who will try to get customers who usually use verylittle data onto expensive unlimited data plans.Here are two steps you can take to get your home services under control.Start by auditing your subscriptions, looking at every service youre paying for, and asking yourself two questions: How much am I using this service? Does the price Im paying line up with how much Im using it?If you dont feel youre getting enough value out of a particular service, consider alternative options. You might find better, cheaper options today that werent available when you first signed up.For instance, you could cut the cord with online cable alternatives, like YouTube TV or Hulu Live TV.For home phone services, companies like Community Phone connect your home phone to cell towers rather than copper wire cable, which lets you get out of restrictive home phone contracts, or expensive internet + home phone packages that most traditional providers require.The bottom line is, you could save hundreds of dollars per year just by taking some time to review the subscriptions youre paying for and looking for cheaper alternatives that more closely align with your needs.This article was submitted by James Graham, Founder and CEO of Community Phone, Cambridge Massachusetts

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.This quote by JM Barrie provides a vivid example of the power of memory. Memory helps us recall wonderful events like hitting that home run in the 9th grade and the birth of a daughter. In addition to memories for major life events, much of our day relies on memory for less momentous information: remembering to pick up a prescription, remembering to pay the phone bill, telling that funny story about your trip to Florida. Through most of our lives, we can recall, with ease, information that helps us to be nostalgic with friends and complete our daily activities. As we age though, it seems remembering information can be challenging and often we are not confident in the information we recall. Everyday slip-ups, like occasionally forgetting to pick up a prescription, every once in a while forgetting the phone bill are common and, on their own, likely not indicative of a memory disorder. Other difficulties may be suggestive of something more serious. For example, becoming lost in familiar places or difficulty recognizing people you know well. Sometimes these kinds of memory problems are related to a medical condition or a progressive illness such as Alzheimer's disease. If you have concerns about your memory, it is important to tell your doctor. If someone you know is having memory problems, encourage them to talk with their doctor. Your healthcare provider may do a brief screening or may refer you to someone who has specialized training in memory testing. For those with significant memory problems, early detection can help to ensure an accurate diagnosis, provide a link to useful resources and information, and help to plan for the future. It is most important to remember to take care of yourself.This article was written by Laura Grande Ph.D., ABPP-CN. Dr. Grande is theDirector, Clinical Neuropsychology at the VA Boston Healthcare SystemIf you have served in the military, enroll in VA HEALTHCARE. You can stillhave a medical team in the community and come to the VA to see a primary care team once a year.There are many benefits you are eligible for that you arent taking advantage of.For more information call David HenckeDirectors Office, VA Boston Healthcare SystemVeterans Outreach CoordinatorO: 857-364-5934; C: 617-275-6101

As our society progresses into the digital age, senior citizens are finding themselves increasingly targeted by financial scams. Whether its through deceptive phone calls, fraudulent emails or sophisticated online productions, older adults are often seen as easy prey for scammers looking to exploit their trust and vulnerability. However, there are ways that friends and family continue protecting seniors from scams through proactive collaboration. The consequences of falling victim to these scams can be financially and emotionally devastating, misleading seniors to give up their hard-earned savings and leaving them feeling isolated and betrayed. This financial deception can have long-term consequences on seniors who have been scammed. In this blog, well explore the prevalence of financial fraud cases targeting seniors, the tactics used by scammers and most importantly, how we can work together to protect elderly loved ones from falling victim to crimes against seniors. Common Types of Financial Deception Retirement scams result in a loss of more than $28 billion each year in the United States. Senior identity theft scams come in a variety of forms, such as identity theft, sweepstakes and lottery scams, and romance scams. Many scams come to senior citizens unsolicited a scammer calls or sends correspondence unprompted and uses a sense of urgency before seniors realize they have been taken advantage of. One of the most common financial crimes against the elderly involves sweepstakes or lottery scams informing them that they have received an unexpected windfall and must act immediately to ensure that they receive the winnings. This tactic is often to secure money through gift card purchases or to access bank accounts or debit cards. The lure of romance scams In 2020, romance scams accounted for the highest total reported losses among all scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Older adults are especially susceptible to romance scams, as the number of adults ages 55-64 who reported participating in online dating applications has doubled over the last few years. In 2020, seniors lost more than $139 million in relationship scams alone. Seniors are often at risk for isolation, loneliness and depression, and romance scams may present a new opportunity for a connection. People perpetrating these scams know the touchpoints to engage seniors in romantic interludes. Utilizing flattery and compliments makes victims feel special, lowering their defenses and making them more susceptible to the sales pitch (or scam). Scammers work to establish trust quickly, and then a sense of urgency emerges suddenly, the person on the other end of the phone needs a quick loan, or they are stranded and need to get home. These moments are the perfect opportunities for scammers to pounce on unsuspecting victims.Retirement scams are often rooted in false promises something that you will see throughout many crimes against seniors. Scammers prey on the basic needs and desires of every human the opportunity for more money or a late-in-life love. Seniors may lack technological familiarity and be susceptible to scams that prey on their trust. Because seniors do not navigate technology as younger generations do, they can be more vulnerable when a scammer presents themselves as an authority figure, such as a police officer or government official requesting information. Recognizing and Avoiding Financial Scams To protect loved ones against scams, have a conversation with them so that they know what kind of red flags to notice. Crimes against the elderly happen fairly quickly, based on a sense of urgency and misplaced trust. One of the first red flags to consider is that unsolicited phone calls or emails should be treated with extreme caution. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Many people get caught up in the get rich quick ideas that scammers often present. Seniors should watch out for these surprise offers and always verify the identity of callers when contacted. Scammers do not want to answer questions; they just want to take advantage of seniors. As soon as you try to uncover the truth, the scammer will often end the communication. Do not release personal information to people you do not know In addition, anyone who contacts you and requests personal information should also be thoroughly vetted for the need for that particular information. Businesses and organizations such as banks and the IRS have safety protocols in place to protect sensitive information, so they will not call you to request your account information directly. Its already known to them if you are a customer. Do not release this information, including bank account numbers, debit card numbers and PINs. This type of financial identity fraud is one of the easiest ways for scammers to access seniors assets. Do not send money to people you dont personally know Further protect yourself by not transferring or wiring money through financial services such as Western Union, which can be used worldwide. You may not be completely aware of who you are paying. Even more, seniors have fallen prey to losing an additional $12 million each year through cryptocurrency scams. Cryptocurrency is a relatively new form of payment that can be confusing if you are not familiar with it, and it can also be used worldwide. Once its been paid, there is no recourse to get it back. Be cautious of high-pressure sales tactics Life in 2024 moves very quickly, but beware of high-urgency tactics, such limited-time offers or limited quantities, which lowers seniors guards when it comes to taking the time to consider the proposition. During this time, scammers may brush off or diminish older adults objections or questions, pressing for an immediate resolution to the offer, which often includes accessing financial information. Ask for help from trusted professionals and close family members Many seniors do not report scam attempts or money loss because of embarrassment. When looking back after you have been scammed, the concerning red flags may be easier to see after you are out of the situation. If you have questions about the validity of an offer, purchase or unexpected romance, consult with trusted family members or financial advisors before releasing information or exchanging money. Family members should offer comfort and emotional assistance after loved ones have been scammed. It is often an embarrassing stigma to realize you have been scammed, paired with the personal financial deception as well. Friends and family members should lend an understanding ear and continue conversations and education to prevent further scams. Resources and reporting For elderly fraud protection and ongoing scams, The National Elder Fraud Hotline staffs compassionate and knowledgeable support specialists who can help older adults navigate the confusion and loss after fraud. This free service is available to all senior citizens and can be a valuable resource. When calling the Elder Fraud Hotline, seniors will reach a case manager who will help them through the reporting process at the federal, state and local levels. They will also be connected with other resources on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, protect yourself by investing in financial fraud prevention services. Research the best identity theft protection for seniors and make the decision that is right for your family. Attend locally hosted events from banks, nonprofit organizations and our Anthology communities such as Anthology of King of Prussia, Anthology of Millis and Anthology of Farmington Hills, which host scam prevention discussions and offer resources for residents to protect themselves from crimes against seniors. In conclusion, as we navigate the increasingly complex landscape of financial scams targeting the elderly, one of the most powerful tools at our disposal is continuing education. By empowering seniors with knowledge about common scams, red flags to watch for and strategies to protect themselves, we not only enhance their financial literacy but also bolster their ability to safeguard their hard-earned assets. As advocates for the well-being of our senior loved ones and community members, Anthology communities commit to providing ongoing education and support. Through collaboration and knowledge, we can help ensure that our residents remain vigilant, informed and resilient against financial exploitation.