Five tips to avoid fraud
Don't give your bank account or credit card number to anyone who phones you. If you want to make a purchase over the phone, make sure you do the calling.
Be extremely careful with any e-mails that purport to be from your bank. Your bank will never ask you to submit personal details like passwords in an e-mail. If in doubt, phone your bank.
Ignore cold-callers who visit your home with “one-day only” offers. If you are interested, take your time and compare the price with other companies. Any e-mail that promises you money in exchange for handling a cheque or setting up a bank account is fraudulent.
If you receive notification that you’ve won a mystery lottery or a competition you don’t remember entering, it’s probably a fraud. Remember, it’s illegal to require you to send money to claim a prize so if this happens, you know a fraud is involved.
Knee deep in rehab
I’m in my late 70s and about to have knee surgery. My doctor says I will be rehabilitating for about six weeks and won't be able to do much. I'm used to being on the go and active so I'm dreading this enforced confinement. What can I do to occupy my time while I'm laid up?
Surgery or injury is bound to cramp the style of anyone used to being active and energetic like you. The good news is you are likely to be better than ever after your surgery and rehabilitation. In the meantime, try to think of your convalescence in a positive light, as a time given to you to develop new and interesting activities, or to revisit old ones.
First, you'll want to decide where you'll be convalescing and with whom. You may need specialist nursing home care for the first week or so before moving home or to a friend or relative. Once out of medical care you may have a spouse or friend that you expect will be around a lot, so look for activities such as puzzles, board games and cards that you can do together. However, if you'll be spending the bulk of your time alone, put a plan in place that will provide plenty of activities to keep your mind occupied. Or consider hiring a companion, such as a Home Instead caregiver, to help you get out and about or to get involved in activities with you.
Some activities you could consider include:
Make a list of all the movies you ever wanted to see or want to see again. Similarly with books you've read or have been meaning to read.
If you used to play an instrument when you were younger, or meant to, perhaps now is a good time to take it up again. See if you can rent one from your local music store, or use one of the recycling websites to see if anyone is getting rid of an old keyboard, trumpet, violin, etc. Freetrade on www.dublinwaste.ie is a good one, as is www.freecycle.org which has several centres in Ireland.
Create a history project. Use your time to create a photo album or memory book about your past, or the history of your family, to pass to future generations.
Learn a new skill. It could be anything from knitting or creative writing to learning how to use the computer and send e-mails. Or plan an activity, such as a holiday or a series of walks, to undertake when you are back on your feet.
Not many people get the chance to have several weeks to devote to a project so make the most of your recuperation time and enjoy it. Best wishes for a successful surgery!
Bored in retirement?
Looking for a part-time job or volunteer work? Seek new activities that allow you to hold on to what you liked most about your job but without all of the stress and demands you endured when working. Try volunteer.ie for some of the opportunities out there.
