The Town of Cutler Bay’s Communities for a Lifetime (CFAL), in celebration of Older American’s Month, presented a program called “Scam Jam” on May 28 at HealthSouth to benefit senior citizens who often are victims of schemes and crimes. More than 30 seniors attended, according to Sue Loyzelle, Cutler Bay Seat 2 councilmember. “The CFAL committee at their monthly meeting decided to provide an opportunity for seniors in our town to come together to learn about financial exploitation,” Councilmember Loyzelle said. “It coined the name ‘Scam Jam.’ Several committee members worked with Marla Fant from HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Miami and decided to present the workshop. HealthSouth agreed to provide the space and a wonderful luncheon for all of the attendees.” The guest speakers at the event included Victoria Funes, assistant sirector, AARP Florida State Office; Marjorie Lee, Miami-Dade field coordinator, AARP Florida State Office; Yves Fortune, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; Joe Schwartz and Julie Grochowski, Senior Medicare Patrol Volunteers; Wayne Picone, Seniors vs. Crime, and Louis Aquirre, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Services. “In addition to the workshop topics, AARP brought an industrial shredder and seniors shredded their medical and financial documents right there on site at HealthSouth,” Loyzelle said. “CFAL Committee chair Marilyn Rams and secretary Dolores Dimitriou provided informational packets to each attendee which included information on Financial Scams, Medicare Fraud, as well as information about PANE (Patient Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation) and SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), free programs offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the local Area Agency on Aging.” CFAL secretary Dolores Dimitriou was pleased with the event. “Everything went well and the food was excellent,” she said afterward. Transportation for seniors attending the presentation was provided by the Town of Cutler Bay Public Works Department, which brought them from Saga Bay Apartments, Lakeshore Apartments, Coral Bay Terraces, East Ridge, Pine Woods Villa and Calusa Cove Apartments. The town’s recreation coordinator, Colin Wells, worked with the CFAL committee and the housing developments to ensure a good attendance for the event. “The CFAL committee would like to provide more informational workshops out in the community in the centers where the seniors live as well as invite seniors who live in single family residences to more events like this,” Loyzelle said. “The committee is currently working on their Strategic Plan for the CFAL committee and will establish priorities for the upcoming year. If you are interested in learning more about the CFAL committee please join us at our next meeting on Thursday, July 10, at 6 p.m., at Cutler Bay Town Hall.” Cutler Bay Town Center is located at 10720 Caribbean Blvd., Suite 105. For information call 305-234-4262.
