Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – This Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Center in Charlottesville is hosting Senior Safety Day in partnership with the Charlottesville Albemarle TRIAD. The event brings together more than 20 organizations to provide resources and education on critical issues like fraud prevention, emergency preparedness, and safe driving for older adults. “Our whole mission is about healthy aging,” said Melanie Benjamin of The Center. “That includes protecting yourself from things that could harm you.”

Key sessions include presentations on avoiding scams and preparing for emergencies like hurricanes and floods. Benjamin emphasized the urgency of staying informed, especially as scams become more sophisticated. “If you’ve been to an avoiding scams program before, you have not been to the most recent one,” she explained. “What TRIAD does so well is to partner with the folks that are really at the front lines of the emerging scams that are happening and make sure that the folks that attend get the sort of latest on phishing scams and tech scams.” 

Beyond education, the event is a chance to build community and encourage openness around a topic many are hesitant to discuss. “One of the saddest things about scams is not only the money that’s taken away from hard working individuals also, the shame that comes with it,” said Benjamin. “Do not be quiet about this because the faster they learn about people being taken advantage of, it’s the fewer people get taken advantage of in the future.” Attendees can expect not only to gain knowledge but to connect with others facing similar challenges and have a little fun along the way. 

Listen to the full conversation here: