WASH I NG TON B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 3 23

VOLUME XXIV, ISSUE 7 A newsletter for D.C. Seniors July 2013

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGEBy John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA

In this month’s edition of “Spot-light on Aging” I would like to dis-cuss fraudulent schemes and scamsthat target seniors, and provide youwith information to help you avoidbecoming a victim of this criminalactivity. Recently, I confronted this issue

with my parents, who live in Colum-bia, S.C. Around 7 p.m. on a Friday,my father responded to a knock atthe door. Two individuals, a maleand a female, wanted to sell my par-ents a vacuum cleaner. Althoughmy father had not called a vacuumcleaner company to request thisvisit, he invited them in, and theyspent two hours giving my father ademonstration of their product inan attempt to convince him to pur-chase the vacuum cleaner.While I am pleased to report that

my father did not purchase a vacu-um cleaner that evening, I am dis-turbed that my father allowed thesetwo individuals into his home fortwo hours. In speaking with my father about

his encounter and asking him somebasic questions, I am convinced thatthis was a scam. First, the individu-als never provided my father withtheir business cards, contact infor-mation, or Web address to learnmore about the company or theproduct after their visit. Second, theindividuals did not even have a vehi-cle. They were dropped off by some-one in a non-descript white van. My father is a trustworthy person

who believes that others are trust-worthy as well. He definitely is anoptimistic person and views theglass as half full, instead of halfempty. However, in today’s society,

we all must be cautious of strangersand their potentially bad intentions. My father mentioned that he just

wanted to be nice to them. Ultimate-ly, it is more important that my fa-ther considers his welfare and safe-ty and that of my mother by protect-ing themselves and their financesfrom such perpetrators. Fortunate-ly, this story does not have a sadending of violence or stolen money. Crimes against unsuspecting sen-

iors will not always present them-selves as a perpetrator masquerad-ing as a vacuum cleaner sales repre-sentative. Crimes may presentthemselves in other ways, such asthe incident that occurred in D.C.where an individual posed as amaintenance worker to gain en-trance into the apartments of twoseniors. Unlike my parents’ experi-ence, these two seniors wererobbed and beaten by the “mainte-nance worker.” I trust that the situations de-

scribed here put you on alert aboutpeople with criminal intentions toscam seniors even if it means harm-ing them. Let me remind you tokeep your doors locked and not toallow anyone to come into yourhome if you have not requested avisit in advance. Moreover, if you have scheduled

a visit to your home, be sure thatthe individual comes at a mutuallyagreed upon time and has a photoname badge imprinted with the em-ployer’s or company’s name.Should you suspect that a crimi-

nal perpetrator is knocking at yourdoor, please immediately contactthe Metropolitan Police Depart-ment by dialing 911.

“I thought I didn’t need homeowner’s in-surance,” said the 75-year-old District home-owner. That was until a guest smoking a ciga-rette fell asleep and burned down the houseshe had lived in for 40 years.

Because she had paid off her mortgage,her lender was no longer setting asidemonthly premiums to pay for homeowner’sinsurance.

So she found herself homeless, and withno insurance to rebuild. Terrified, she con-tacted people who are now trying to help herget money from government, churches andgrant-making nonprofits to rebuild herhouse.

Nobody keeps track of how many peoplehave paid off their mortgage and either pur-posely or accidentally let their insurancelapse. But you may have a relative in thesame position. If they’ve paid off their mort-gage, they must remember to keep up theirhomeowner’s insurance.

What if your home was destroyed by fire,for instance, and you discovered that therewas no longer a homeowner’s policy in force?

What if a burglar breaks in? If you don’t have a homeowner’s insurance

policy, you will be responsible for coveringthe costs of repairs and stolen merchandise.If the entire house is destroyed, it will beyour responsibility to finance a new home.

As tempting as it may seem, especiallysince some homeowners have sued theirbanks for allegedly colluding with insurancecompanies to overcharge them, it is not agood idea to let your insurance lapse withoutat least seriously considering the risks andshopping around for reasonable coverage.Not having homeowner’s coverage is anenormous financial risk.

Lenders require that homebuyers pur-chase homeowners insurance in order to geta mortgage. In fact, most mortgage compa-nies require that homebuyers pay premiumsinto an escrow account each month, fromwhich the mortgage company pays the insur-ance company each year.

This way, the mortgage company is

Paid off the Mortgage? Don’t Forget to Keep Your

Homeowner’s Insurance Current

Mayor Vincent C. Gray stopped by the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, the HayesSenior Wellness Center and the Model Cities Senior Wellness Center recently. Duringhis visits, the Mayor spent time listening to seniors and sharing future plans for the Dis-trict, including the Age-Friendly City initiative. While at the Hayes Senior Wellness Cen-ter, the Mayor assisted with serving meals to participants. For more information on pro-grams and services provided by the D.C. Office on Aging, call 202-724-5626 or visitdcoa.dc.gov.

Mayor Visits Senior ProgramsSee INSURANCE, page 25

The District crowned Nancy A.Berry as Ms. Senior D.C. 2013 duringthe recent Ms. Senior D.C. Pageantheld at the University of the District ofColumbia. Berry, a resident of Ward 5,was one of five contestants to competefor the title.Berry, First Runner-up in the 2012

event, was not planning to participate,but she was coaxed by many to run,saying, “The handwriting was on thewall, and I entered the contest.”Awarded Best Talent for her per-

formance sporting the flapper look in ared fringe dress and matching head

piece, Berry danced to “Sweet GeorgiaBrown” from the Broadway musicalBubbling Brown Sugar. First Runner-up Sharon Lockwood

danced to “Hot, Hot, Hot” with ener-getic dance moves in a costume remi-niscent of “I Dream of Jeanie.” SecondRunner-up Amelia Anderson-Weaver,also in red, wore a multi-tiered dressand sang a Dionne Warwick favorite,“You’ll Never Get to Heaven if YouBreak My Heart.”Ms. Senior D.C. was also awarded

Best Evening Gown, wearing a powderblue strapless gown with sweetheart

neckline and a bodice featuring star-studded stones. The gown, designedby Terani Couture, included an A-lineskirt with a tulle overlay. Berry also received the awards for

Best Interview and Ms. Congeniality.Ms. Congeniality was voted upon byeach of the contestants, which also in-cluded Washington Seniors WellnessCenter participant Hope Spruill andIda Crews.Other highlights of the contest in-

cluded an opening and finale per-formed by the MC Steppers to thetheme song “Vogue.” During the open-ing, the contestants and Ms. SeniorD.C. 2012 Mary L. McCoy danced inthe number, which featured photoshoot-like camera flashes and soundeffects, with dancers wearing colorfulsequined costumes performing fash-

ion runway-inspired steps. The MCSteppers performed the finale alone to“Diamonds” by Janet Jackson, withsleek, all-black costumes and longgloves adorned by rhinestone jewelry.Mr. D.C. Joseph Humphrey, 22, es-

corted Ms. Senior D.C. 2012 Mary L.McCoy as she recited her farewell ad-dress and made her final walk. McCoythanked all for their support duringher reign and wished the new queenwell. McCoy was a big hit in Atlantic City

at the Ms. Senior America Pageant andcompeted as a top 10 finalist. Ms. Sen-ior D.C. Nancy A. Berry will also com-pete in the Ms. Senior America Pag-eant to be held October 20-25.The Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant is pre-

sented by the D.C. Seniors CameoClub, Family Matters of Greater Wash-ington, and the D.C. Office on Aging.The event is held to recognize thecommunity service, talent and innerbeauty of District residents who areage 60 and older.

24 J U LY 2 0 1 3 — WA SH I NG TON B E A CON

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

Ms. Senior D.C. 2013 Chosen

There are two openings that havebeen posted by the D.C. Depart-ment of Human Resources for theD.C. Office on Aging. To apply forthe Resource Allocation Officer(Grants Administrator) position orthe Supervisory Public Health Ana-lyst position, or for more informa-tion about the openings, visitdchr.dc.gov. HR Answers may alsoprovide individuals with general in-formation on D.C. Government em-ployment opportunities. Call themat 202-442-9700.

DCOA Open Positions

Pictured (left to right) Ida Crews, escort Michael Hawkins; Hope Spruill, escort Charles Hudson; Amelia Anderson-Weaver, her husband Samuel; Ms. Senior D.C. Nancy A. Berry, her grandson Troy Holland, Jr.; Sharon Lockwoodand her husband David.

Pictured (left to right) Tonya J. Smallwood, president and CEO, Family Matters ofGreater Washington; Ms. Senior D.C. Nancy A. Berry; her grandson Troy Hol-land, Jr.; Dr. John Thompson and his daughter Chloe.

The Master of Ceremonies for theevent was Robert "Captain Fly" Frye,the voice of WPFW 89.3 FM's OldiesHouse Party and WYCB 1340 AM'sSenior Zone. Captain Fly, the leadsinger of the Intruders, also serenad-ed the contestants during the event.

Ms. Senior D.C. Nancy A. Berry alsowon the Best Talent award for herdance performance in a flapper outfit.

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

Community CalendarJuly events

3rd to 7th • 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take

place on the National Mall, between 7th and 14thStreets. This annual event, sponsored each June-July by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage,celebrates cultural traditions from around the world.The Folklife Festival includes daily and eveningmusic and dance performances, crafts and cookingdemonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cul-tural issues. Parking is limited; Metro may be thebest option. The closest stations are Smithsonian,Federal Triangle and National Archives.

11th • 10:30 a.m.Learn more about diabetes at this “Diabetes Se-

ries Follow Up” at the Green Valley Senior Nutri-tion Site, 2412 Franklin St. NE. For more informa-tion, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

12th • 5 to 8 p.m.Meet printmaker Terry Svat and sculptor Ju-

dith Simmons, whose work is now on display atIona, at a reception for the artists. The event fea-tures live music and refreshments. The exhibitionis open for viewing Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5p.m. through Sept. 27. Iona is located at 4125Albemarle St. NW. RSVP by contacting PatriciaDubroof at 202-895-9407 or pdubroof@iona.org.

18th • 10 a.m. The DCOA Ambassador Program is a free, in-

teractive program designed to reach out to older

adults and their caregivers to help them learnabout DCOA programs and services. Ambassadortraining is held at the Office on Aging, 500 K St.NE. Call 202-724-5626 to register today!

22nd • 10:30 a.m.Learn more about healthy living at the Ft. Lin-

coln 3 Health Information Day held at the Ft. Lin-coln 3 Senior Nutrition Site, 3298 Ft. Lincoln Dr.NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at202-529-8701.

31st • 11:30 a.m.Learn how to protect your vital information at a

medical identity theft seminar at Edgewood Ter-race Senior Nutrition Site, 635 Edgewood St. NE.For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

Spotlight On Aging is published by theInformation Office of the D.C. Office onAging for D.C. senior residents. Advertis-ing contained in the Beacon is not en-dorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging or bythe publisher.

500 K St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002

202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov

John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMAExecutive DirectorDarlene Nowlin

EditorSelma DillardPhotographer

The D.C. Office on Aging does not dis-criminate against anyone based on actualor perceived: race, color, religion, nation-

al origin, sex, age, marital status, person-al appearance, sexual orientation, familialstatus, family responsibilities, matricula-tion, political affiliation, disability, sourceof income, and place of residence or busi-ness.Sexual harassment is a form of sex dis-

crimination which is prohibited by theAct. In addition, harassment based onany of the above protected categories isprohibited by the Act. Discrimination inviolation of the Act will not be tolerated.Violators will be subjected to disciplinaryaction.

The Office on Aging isin partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING

The D.C. Office on Aging haslaunched a Call-In Talk Line to help alle-viate the isolation and loneliness thatmany seniors in the community experi-ence. The program gives seniors an op-portunity to share their concerns with acaring individual who can direct them to

resources and services available to as-sist DC residents.

The free service is available Mondaythrough Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.Call weekdays: 202-724-5626.

Someone cares and is waiting to speakto you!

DCOA Call-In Talk Line

...But Does 9-1-1 Know Who Lives in YOUR House?

Office of

Communications

Unified 311DCgov

Provided by the

Office of Unified Communications

In an emergency 9-1-1

knows who lives in this house...

d C e oi mfi mn uU n

if

co a

e t

c ii o

f n

f s

O

Create your free safety profilefor 9-1-1 at:

assured that insurance will be available if thehome is damaged. But once the mortgage ispaid off, there is no longer a mortgage com-pany requiring homeowners’ insurance.

Some homeowners unintentionally allowtheir coverage to lapse because their lenderno longer requires them to pay. Others mayvoluntarily decide to end the coverage tosave money because they don’t think any-thing will happen to their home.

What does homeowners insurance cover?The physical structure and personal proper-ty, such as clothes, furniture, jewelry, elec-tronics and other things. And don’t forgetpersonal liability insurance that covers poli-cyholders against lawsuits in the event some-body gets hurt on their property.

If the homeowner negligently causes aninjury or damages another person’s proper-ty, the policy protects the homeowner. Addi-

tionally, the homeowner’s policy usually paysfor a lawyer, if necessary. (The homeowner’spolicy does not cover all negligent acts — forexample, auto accidents are not covered.)

Be sure to contact an insurance profes-sional to help you decide which policy to buy(there are several different forms) and howmuch to insure your house for.

For questions about homeowner’s insur-ance, you may call the D.C. Department ofInsurance, Securities and Banking at 202-727-8000.

Paying the final mortgage payment is adream come true. Be sure it doesn’t turn intoa nightmare.

The District of Columbia’s Department ofInsurance, Securities and Banking regulatesthe city’s financial-services businesses. It hastwo missions: to effectively and fairly regulatefinancial services to protect the people of theDistrict; and to attract and retain financial-services businesses. For more information, visitwww.disb.dc.gov.

InsuranceFrom page 23

WASH I NG TON B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 3 25