According to the National Council on Aging, Americans retiring today are living longer, with significantly less money saved, amid ever-increasing costs. In addition, older adults are frequently targeted by scam artists because they are thought to be vulnerable and have a significant amount of money sitting in their accounts. In April, Walmart and NCOA announced a national pilot program to empower older adults to protect themselves from financial fraud.
The national pilot will be implemented in communities across the United States and will include:
• A tested educational curriculum on financial exploitation: Based on the success of NCOA’s Savvy Saving Seniors® program, the curriculum will highlight popular scams targeting seniors, provide tips for avoiding them, and offer next steps for victims of financial fraud.
• In-person education at senior centers: NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) will pilot the curriculum in four communities, hosting workshops and webinars to educate older adults on how to protect themselves and avoid becoming a victim of a financial scam.
“NCOA believes every person deserves to age well,” said Jim Firman, NCOA president and CEO. “Most older adults are living on a fixed income, making it critical that they protect and maximize their resources to maintain their financial well-being. Partnering with Walmart will help us reach more older adults with this important information.”
Since 1950, NCOA offers real life solutions, including BenefitsCheckUp®, an online resource where older adults can discover if they are eligible for benefits programs to help them pay for food, medicine, utilities, and more.
With more than 160 million Americans each week shopping Walmart in store and online, the retailer has a unique viewpoint when it comes to the needs of everyday Americans. Helping to preserve the retirement and well-being of senior citizens is one aspect of the retailer’s overall commitment to helping Americans save money and live better.