Attorney General's mobile office educates seniors
By Kelby Newcomb, CCNNews@cox-internet.com
Carroll County seniors received one-on-one advice and assistance from the Arkansas Attorney General's mobile office this Monday.
Representatives from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's office visited the Carroll County Senior Activity and Wellness Center to assist constituents with consumer-related issues such as filing consumer complaints and to provide information about scams, identity theft, fraud and other protections.
Carla Mann, director of the senior center, said the mobile office is an important resource for the community.
"It gives them the chance to ask questions and actually be able to talk to somebody in person and not just on the phone," Mann said. "They feel like they can freely ask questions about legal issues that maybe they can't afford to see an attorney about. That's the goal of the event."
Rachel Ellis, an event coordinator and community educator from the Attorney General's office, offered a presentation on identity theft prevention and Digital You to the seniors. A press release from the Attorney General's office says Digital You is a comprehensive educational program created by AT&T and Common Sense Media to offer tools, tips, apps, guidance and community education events for people of all ages and levels of online experience to learn more about how to have a safe and secure online experience.
Also during the mobile office, the Attorney General's Office partnered with local law enforcement agencies for a prescription drug take back. Officer Dan Wilson of the Berryville Police Department was present at the event to collect any prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, pet medicines or other medications that people wished to turn over.
Wilson said the event offered seniors an easy and accessible way to properly dispose of unneeded prescription medications.
"Many seniors take a lot of prescription meds. A lot of times, you'll have one spouse pass away, and the other will have a lot of medication lying around," he said."Just having that stuff sitting around is kind of a temptation to some people."
Wilson said the prescription drugs collected during the event would be taken to a drop-off point at the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.
The county usually has a prescription drug takeback once a year, he said, and the event fit in well with the mission of the mobile office. Wilson said the mobile office offered an excellent opportunity to educate senior citizens on different problems they may face, such as identity theft issues.
"It all works together," he said.