EverSafe Newsletter

Staying Fit as We Age – Even in the Heat

WEIGHT TRAINING MAY HELP WARD OFF DEMENTIA

The weather over the last few weeks has reached record-breaking temperatures across much of the country. Many of us are spending time on the treadmill in the comfort of air-conditioned gyms. Much has been written about the importance of walking – as we age. Generally speaking, adults under age 60 should aim for 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day, and those older than age 60 should aim for 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day according to experts. But seniors should also consider adding weight training to their regimen. Weightlifting is one of the most important types of exercise one can do as they age. According to Debra Atkinson, CSCS, “there’s no age limit on the muscle’s ability to gain strength or even muscle mass.” And experts agree that when seniors work with weights, they can boost their metabolic health, enhance balance and coordination, and even improve their cognitive functioning. Recent studies, including one at Harvard, found that vigorous aerobic exercise can improve memory and reasoning in people with mild cognitive impairment, which is often a precursor to dementia. But they also concluded that individuals, 55 plus, who include weight training in their routine scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who did not. Isadore Ribeiro, PhD, from the School of Medical Sciences at the State University of Campinas in Brazil, was involved in another such study. Her team found that participants who participated in weight training showed improvement in the strength of neurons and areas of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. According to Ribeiro, “weight training may alter the clinical trajectory of individuals with mild cognitive impairment, shifting them from an increased risk of dementia to preserved cognition by the end of the study.”

SCAM ALERT

US POSTAL SERVICE WARNS ABOUT “BRUSHING”

Last month, the US Postal Service (USPS) published a notice about a scam called “brushing,” which has become more prevalent. It works like this: a package arrives at your residence, addressed to you, but it is not something you ordered. You may think that you hit the jackpot, but it is quite possible that your personal identifying information (p.i.i.) has been compromised and exposed to an unscrupulous vendor – or a scammer. Why are they placing orders and sending them to unwitting individuals? It may be that the company needs to augment their sales numbers or use the fake sale to create an unauthorized product review. Recently, a new variation on the scam emerged: the package contains a QR code under the guise that you need to scan the code to learn who sent the “gift” or to get more information about the item – like directions for assembly. If you do receive a mystery package in the mail, consider taking the following steps:

• Check your online accounts: Check your EverSafe account, any online shopping services you use regularly, as well as banking and credit card accounts for unusual charges.
• Report it: Go to USPIS.gov and file a report with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Reporting these scams helps investigators trace the origin and stop future incidents.
• Consider updating your passwords: for the sites you use regularly, such as Amazon, and any other place where your financial or personal data may be stored.
• Don’t engage: You are not obligated to pay for or return or review the item. In fact, doing so may validate your address to scammers and lead to more unwanted deliveries, according to the USPS.
• Do not scan any QR codes that come with the package. These codes can lead to malicious websites where p.i.i. is stolen and used in scams.

GOVERNMENT / LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

SENATE ISSUES REPORT ON ELDER FRAUD

Earlier this month, the US Senate Special Committee on Aging announced the release of their annual fraud report. The 2025 bipartisan article, Age of Fraud: Scams Facing Our Nation’s Seniors, summarizes the escalating number of financial scams targeting seniors as well as how to recognize red flags and report financial abuse, The report outlines a number of the latest scams, including sophisticated schemes that use artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency fraud. You can read the comprehensive report here.

Crossing the English Channel

RELAY TEAM OF SENIORS AIMS TO SET WORLD RECORD

An international relay team of six swimmers is aiming to break a world record as part of the oldest mixed team ever to swim the English Channel. Calling themselves “457 YEARS”  (the total of their combined ages), this team of three men and three women, between 71 and 80 years old, is attempting to swim the historic crossing of the English Channel between July 29th and August 8th – weather permitting. Swimmers wishing to accomplish this feat must plan in advance. Requirements include hiring a boat to follow along with them, registering with a UK channel swimming organization, and completing a six-hour swim in water below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to prove they have the endurance to meet this challenge. An inspiration to us all!