MOVING SENIORS SAFELY WEEK: MARCH 27 — April 2, 2023

Toronto –In the past three years, nearly a million older Canadians have moved.  This number will only increase as Canada’s population ages. When it comes to moving, seniors have special concerns, not the least of which is being targeted in heartless moving scams.

The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), and CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) have teamed up to present “Moving Seniors Safely Week,” March 27 – April 2, 2023 to help safeguard older Canadians. CAM and CARP recognize the lack of knowledge and awareness about the challenges of moving – be they financial, emotional, or physical. During Moving Seniors Safely Week, the two organizations will be providing key information by webinar, video and social media that will better equip seniors, and their families, to meet the challenges of moving.

Whether it’s downsizing to a smaller home to suit the empty nest, moving into a retired living community, or relocating to be closer to family, a move is so much more than a one-day event. It can involve months of planning and organization, a multi-day move, and then the important step of setting up the new residence safely and securely. The focus of Moving Seniors Safely Week will be on downsizing, self-packing tips, the benefits of hiring a professional mover and, critically, the red flags to look out for to avoid moving fraud, for which seniors are specifically targeted.

“Eighty percent of our consumer calls are from victims of scam moving companies, many of them are seniors,” says Nancy Irvine, President of CAM. “Operations can appear to be legitimate in advertisements or online.  But the scam begins when they lure consumers in by estimating below market value prices.  Once booked, the move is underway and it’s too late for consumers to back out.  The “movers” then engage in profiteering practices by bullying consumers into paying outrageous prices while holding the shipment hostage and threatening to sell it if their demands are not fulfilled. CAM can offer advice on how to identify red flags that signal possible fraud operations and can recommend certified professional movers who can meet seniors’ special needs.”

“If there is good news about the problems faced when older Canadians are planning a move, it’s that there are plenty of ways to avoid becoming a victim. Unlike random acts of violence or crime, where you might not have that opportunity to protect yourself, here you can. We are driven by the desire to set up older Canadians for success and to avoid victimization by providing valuable information to help plan and execute a successful move safely,” says Bill VanGorder, CARP’s Chief Operating Officer & Chief Policy Officer.