Fortune Magazine’s annual list of Best Workplaces includes Fieldstone Communities, whose independent living, assisted living, and memory care includes locations includes locations in Puyallup and other parts of western Washington.
Fieldstone is fourth among small or medium-sized businesses across the country in the Aging Services category of Fortune’s rankings. The recognition is based on results from anonymous employee surveys, in which 86 percent of Fieldstone’s employees called their employer a great place to work. According to Fortune, only 57 percent of workers at a typical U.S.-based company feel that way.
This is the third time—and the highest ranking—that Fieldstone has been so-recognized by Fortune Magazine. The company was previously given the award in 2019 and 2021.
“We are so grateful,” said Paul Rasmussen, chief operations officer at Cascadia Senior Living, the parent company of Fieldstone Communities. “This award recognizes the way our teams support one another to provide an excellent resident experience.”
Fieldstone has a memory care community in Puyallup, plus a mix of other communities in Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Olympia, and Marysville. There also are communities in Yakima.
Scams and fraud are more deceiving these days, reaching possible victims in more ways than ever before. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) reported 2.8 million fraud complaints from consumers in 2021 alone, with reported fraud losses increasing 70 percent from 2020 and more than $5.8 million.
Computer users can fall victim to remote-access software that can steal financial information.
“The more that we can get this information out there, the better,” Kerskie recently told T-Mobile Stories. “Unfortunately, when it comes to technology, privacy and identity theft, the same old advice that was given 10, 15 years ago is still the gospel of what you’re supposed to do. And that is outdated. None of it works. It’s not true, it’s not relevant any more.”
Scammers have expanded from targeting consumers with only traditional e-mail and phone calls. The most recent scams are occurring using person-to-person payment platforms (P2P), remote-access software, and even public Wi-Fi.
Kerskie says the most desirable accounts to criminals include bank accounts, mobile-phone accounts, credit card accounts, and Amazon accounts. With P2P payment platforms, criminals can get access to your bank account and use it to transfer money within moments.
The latest tactic that concerns Kerskie is using remote-access software to gain access to everything on your computer without having to directly ask you for things like your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. While many workers use remote-access software safely from their companies’ IT departments, criminals are also using this software in their scams.
Criminals also try to access your information in settings like coffee shops or libraries using public Wi-Fi. A laptop or smartphone using public Wi-Fi can easily fall victim to scams. An easy fix is to use your smartphone’s wireless data and hotspot to help keep your personal information secure.
Kerskie says there are ways to keep scammers at bay ahead of the holiday shopping season:
Prioritize privacy. Privacy means having strong and unique passwords with a minimum of 12 characters, and for PINs using random numbers and taking advantage of extra security. Enabling multi-factor authentication on your various apps and accounts will also protect yourself from potential threats.
Use available resources. Take advantage of the free anti-fraud safeguards offered by your mobile carrier. In the case of T-Mobile’s Scam Shield, services include enhanced caller ID, scam ID and blocking, which flags suspicious calls and gives customers the option of blocking those numbers. Additionally, customers can get a free second number to keep their personal number personal, or even change their primary number completely.
Validate or eliminate. Whatever potential threat you come across via email, text message, letter or even a phone call, try to validate the information. If you can’t confirm the information is true or confirm the sender’s validity, throw it away, block the phone number or e-mail address, and report it as spam or junk mail.
Understanding how potential cyber threats and fraud work will help protect you this holiday season and beyond.
The annual Medicare enrollment period, besides bringing in first-time enrollees, is also a once-a-year opportunity for Medicare users to evaluate and possibly make money-saving changes in their coverage. But only about 10 percent of current Medicare users do, according to the National Council on Aging. The result is they can end up overspending for coverage they don’t need or use.
During this year’s enrollment period, which started Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, “the stakes are higher than ever,” said Josh Hodges, the council’s chief customer officer. “With inflation at a 40-year high and a recent U.S. Census report showing that poverty increased among Americans age 65 and older, it’s critical that people with Medicare use this time to make sure their plan meets their budget and their health care needs.”
There is good news for Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. The Biden Administration announced the projected average premium for Medicare Advantage plans is $18 per month, nearly 8 below the 2022 average premium of $19.52. The average monthly premium for standard Part D coverage is expected to be $31.50, compared to $32.08 in 2022.
The recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act also will put new limits on drug price increases, cap monthly out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35, and make vaccines free with no copay.
“When assessing options, we recommend individuals look at cost, coverage, and convenience,” Hodges said. “Every year, Medicare plans change, and so do people’s personal health situations.”
Trendy threads or vintage whatever .No matter your style, buying secondhand can give your wallet a break.
In each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, Lawn Love looked at the number of thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets, Goodwill boutiques, outlets, and other specialty thrift shops. The consumer-information service also considered Google search interest in thrifting-related keywords over the past year.
In the resulting rankings of “thriftiest” cities, Seattle ranked 27th overall and Tacoma came in at number 50. In sub-categories, Seattle ranked fourth for most Goodwill outlet stores.
The top 5 overall are New York City. Houston, Los Angeles, San Antonio and San Diego.
Goodwill stores, with their displays of donated merchandise such as these, are among the reasons why Seattle and Tacoma are in the top 50 of “best cities” for thrift shopping.
