26

MANY seniors are con-
cerned about their
safety — physical,
financial or emotional.
As we get older, we may
become more vulnerable to
abuse in many ways. If we
find thar we need help with
our finances, with home
repairs, or getting around the
neighbourhood, we need to
be sure that the people who
assist us are trustworthy.
Recently, the British
Columbia Coalition to End
the Abuse of Seniors
(BCCEAS) developed a
brochure, Money Matters for
Seniors, a taining manual for
staff in financial institutions
and a video. The brochure is
available through BCCEAS
at 521-1235.
If you would like to bor-
row the Money Matters for
Seniors video training pack-
age please call Tristt
Gauntlet, coordinator of
North Shore Community
Support Network for Adults
at High Risk of Abuse and
Neglect at 925-7138.
Trish can offer informa-
tion about other. types of
. abuse of vulnerable adults as

well and would be picased to

speak with community
groups ‘about the issue.

“As we get older,
“we may become
-more vulnerable to
abuse in many
ways. ...we need to
be sure the people
who assist us are .
-_ trustworthy.”

“One great way to feel safe

--and secure in your home is
to. contact your local Block

_ : Watch association.

coe Getting to know and trust
. your neighbours means that

you can call on someone

nearby for help if you need

it, ask them to keep an eye
“on your place or simply call if

“there is a stranger around or
~ anything unusual! that is con-
cerning you. Block Watch
can be reached in North
Vanceuver through the .
. RCMP at 985-0800 and in |
West Vancouver through the
community policing office at
; 925- 7300.

_ "A common scam that

* affects seniors is the phone
‘call asking for a donation or
telling us that we have won a
prize.

If a caller asks for cash or
for private information such

“as your bank or credit card
~numbers, be suspicious.
instead of responding over

the phone, as ask the cailer to

send information in writing,
and then check out the orga-
nization by calling the Better
Business Bureau at 682-271]
or Phone Busters at 1-888-
495-8501.

The Canadian Bankers
Association is warning people
about a new phone fraud
that plays on fears about the

'- upcoming millennium.

The caller tells the victim
that he is calling on behalf of
sthe bank and states that they
must transfer money from

~ Sunday, April 11, 1999 ~

North Shore News

north

shore news

1 SENIORS

to be sate than s

Sena

on the
scene

their sccount to a special
bond account in order to
protect their funds in case of
a Y2K bank problem. He
then asks for information
about the account, in order
to “verify that he is talking
to the proper person.” The
Bankers Association warns
thar no bank employce or
police officer would call ask-
ing for this information. If
you get this kind of a call,
call your bank or the police
right away.

Recently, another costly

“Re: S1Osy:

| Sharing a Vision
of Health

LIONS GATE
HOSPITAL’S
Caring Community
Calendar

Si et G
yy ro
wed. ‘kpr 14 at 7PM.

in Seminar A
For any person who has had a
brain injury. Concerned family
members are welcome. For

: | more information call Joanne

Oben, 5.W. at $84-3742.

s Diabetes -
wt Group
“Mon apr 19 at 7PM.
-; im the Medical Day Ceatre

For any person with diabetes,

'} Family and ali other support

persons welcome. For more
information call Linda Lee
Ross at 988-3131, local 4495,

e
Lifes) Sail for Wi Weight
Management

starting Ape 19 evening

in the Medical Day Centre
A weight control program
offering new approaches to
eating, activity and managing
change, without dieting. Fee
is $165. To register or for more
information cal call 984-5752.

Copi with Cancer
ro
Wedatedays at 10/114
im the Chemotherapy Unit
For patier:'s and their families.
For information cali Joyce *
Auld, S.W. at 984-3709.

Asthma Education
- Moudays at 5 ps.

im the Chemotherapy Unit
Designed for al] ages, the
program is limited to four
people per session. To pre-
register call 984-3722.

Bereavement Groups for
Children § - 12 yrs. of age
Wednesday evenings

For children and parents of
grieving children. These groups
will be held twice a month.
Children wilt be able to ex-
press themselves through the
use of play, music and art To
register or for more info. call
Heather Mohan, Music
Therapist at 984-5951 lout
8007 or Geoff Straw, M.A.,
Bereavement Coordinator at

1984-5873.

scam has been reported on
the North Shore. Several
elderly women were
approached by a contractor
who persuaded them to pay
large amounts of money for
home repairs that were nur
needed.

Ifyou feel char work
needs to be done in your
home, ask friends for a reter-
ral to someone they trust, or
check with the Better
Business Bureau directory
which lists member compa-
nies. This directory was
recently delivered to homes
on the North Shore, but if
you can’t put your hands on
it, the libraries have a copy,
as do local Safeway stores.

Ty

And finally, if someone
you don’t know comes to
your deer, be cautious, A
peep hoie with a wide view-
ing range can help to identify
the visitor, You can always
refuse to open the door, and
ask the caller to leave written
informacion in your mai! box.
As the old saying goes: “It’s
better to be sate than sorry.”

— Mary Segal is coardina-
tor of Ltonsview Seniors’
Planning Society. Ideas for
fitture columns are welcome.
Contact Sequl at 985-3852 or
drop a line to Lionsview
Seniors’? Planning Society,
North Building, 600 W.
Queens Rd., North Van, B.C.,
V7N 2L3.

SN
VANCOUVER HOSPITAL

Edeet by one. tepine

ARE You A SMOKER OR
AN Ex SMOKER

We are currently conducting two scudies at the respiratory
cline at Vancouver General Hospital for people with cliron-
ic bronchitis or emphysema. One stucly is to evaluate a new
tablet thar last for }2 hours and the other is a long acting
inhaled medication thar last 24 hours. All studies are 7
months in duration and require 10-11 visits to the clinic.

Facurry of Henle
Test Me vensete OF
Catese Congnpta

To qualify, you must:

~ be at least 40 years of age
~ have chronic bronchitis or empiiysema
~ have NO ASTHMA or HISTORY ef ASTHMA

If eligible, you will receive your study medications, a diary
and pevk flow meter to measure your breathing, and an
honorarium to cover your expenses for participating.

For more information, please call the study nurse at

875-5698

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FOR OPERATOR

22
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