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Five Warning Signs for Declining Financial Ability in Older Adults*
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1. |
Memory Lapses: |
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Forgetting to pay bills, or paying them more than once |
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Difficulty remembering personal property (and its value) or estate plan |
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2. |
Disorganization |
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Problems organizing and keeping track of bills, statements, other documents |
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eg., papers scattered throughout the house |
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Increased difficulty preparing (or organizing) annual taxes |
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3. |
Math Mistakes: |
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Math and counting errors in everyday life (eg., making change, tipping) |
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Problems balancing checkbook |
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4. |
Confusion: |
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Difficulty understanding basic terms and concepts (eg., like loan or interest |
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Trouble understanding personal estate plan, despite repeated explanations |
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5. |
Impaired Judgment: |
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Questionable or poor financial decisions |
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New interest in lotteries and get-rich schemes |
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