A DNA scam calls attention to a common problem at seniors-only housing complexes and medical facilities.
What has happened to some local senior citizens resembles in some way those stories about "free cruise" winners cashing in, but being forced to spend most of their "island vacation" in mandatory time-share sales meetings.
The big difference is that seniors, especially those in congregate housing, are even more captive and subject to high-pressure tactics than the couple forced to hear the sales pitch. At least they have a chance of swimming back to dry land.
In November, about 20 residents of the Clayton Mews seniors' housing complex attended a meeting put on by an outfit called The Good Samaritans of America. Authorities say its sole purpose was to get residents to sign up for costly genetic testing to alert them to life-threatening conditions.
The man who ran "Good Samartitans," Seth Rehfuss, 41, of Somerset, was charged in December with defrauding Medicare of more than $1 million. Rehfuss had gained access to similar complexes all over the state, calling his presentation as an "ice cream social" to discuss health issues.
It's unclear how much, if any, money the seniors who signed up paid out on their own, but authorities called the tests worthless. As a result, Clayton Mews' owners last week said they would review policies on access by outsiders. It's a start, but there's cause for regulatory oversight, too.
Clayton Mews is an "independent living facility" with individual apartments. Outsiders' access is even more of an issue for assisted living facilities and nursing homes, where residents have more limited mobility. Some can still get to communal meals and social functions. That's as captive an audience as any scam artist - or any legitimate business person -- can hope to get. Compounding the problem is residents' reasonable assumption that management has somehow endorsed a product or service.
These senior facilities should not be allowed to accept any meeting room rental fee or other compensation from outside businesses for access to residents. This would reduce the opportunity for seniors to get fleeced, but wouldn't stop the tax-preparation volunteers or the county flu-shot team from setting up.
Actually, a false perception of endorsement is a concern at non-senior events, too. News outlets are often asked to run community items about, say, an investment seminar in a public library or a municipal meeting room. If a private securities firm seeking clients is running the session, the library (especially if it sends in the announcement) should stress that it is not the sponsor and is just allowing use of its facilities. Otherwise, it's easy for people to think the session is an educational program arranged by the public entity.
In most cases, such guidelines have to be self-imposed. But at the most captive senior-living facilities, involve the agencies that enforce health and safety standards. Clayton Mews wants to do the right thing. Others may need a nudge from the state Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing.
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