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When disaster strikes, families learn to grieve
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Twenty-eight American families are waiting to hear the fates of their loved ones who were on a cargo ship, El Faro, that went missing last week as Hurricane Joaquin made its way toward the East Coast, according to NBC News.

According to NBC, the ship, which first went missing around 7 a.m. last Thursday, was headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico, having come from Jacksonville, Florida. There were 28 Americans on board, along with five people of Polish descent.

Danielle Randolph, a 34-year-old woman from Rockland, Maine, is one of the missing Americans onboard, according to NBC. Her mother is desperately waiting for her.

"She is usually the only female aboard the ship, but even though she is a short little girl she can handle her own well," Laure Bobillot, mother of Randolph, said in a statement, according to NBC News. When she's home, she's all girlie girl. She's an avid Barbie doll collector and loves to dress up retro style, shop and bake. Ever since an extremely young age, she wanted to work on the ocean."

But this is hardly the first time families have grieved over national tragedies and disasters. Families and friends grieved after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed last year, too, according to CNN. Some families told memories of their children to CNN, while others talked about how their family members will still affect them.

"It feels like they're already one with me now," said Mika, a boy who missed the MH-17 flight that included his brothers. "I feel like they're going to watch over me forever.

And South Korean families continue to grieve even now after the Sewol ferry boat sank in the Yellow Sea last year, CNN reported. Though wreckage from the ferry has been recovered, nine people have yet to be found, according to CNN.

"We, the families of the missing victims, are still living the day April 16, 2014," said Park Eun-Mi, whose daughter, Huh Da-yun, was on the ferry. "I cannot think about anything except to find my daughter and other missing people."

Struggling with grief, especially in cases where family members have gone missing, can be tough. But there are ways a family can handle their grief and their childs grief.

For example, there are a number of grief therapists who aid families affected by grief after natural disasters or major events, according to Psychology Today. There are even treatment facilities that will offer therapeutic environments for families to handle their grief and find solutions for a better future for their family.

For children, some of the best lessons of handling grief come from the TV show Sesame Street, that has long offered lessons on the topic through its When Families Grieve lessons, which often help families who have lost someone because of military service. Other families can benefit from the lessons, too.

The death of a loved one is an experience that affects us all, the website reads. These When Families Grieve resources will always be here to provide support to families during this most difficult time.

Similarly, PBS suggests parents talk and share ideas about handling grief with their children, like explaining what happened that caused the grief, various feelings on the loss of a loved one and how to move on.

Its also important for parents and children to offer support with one another, according to PBS. Parents should try their best to help their children cope with any life changes that come their way, which sometimes includes creating a new normal, according to PBS.

This also helps create an environment for children where they feel safe talking about their grief, PBS reported.

As you move forward, you may find your family laughing and having fun together more often, PBS reported. Trust that the memories you and your child create and celebrate will go a long way toward building a sense of emotional resilience that can last a lifetime.

PBS has a number of printable activity books families can use for dealing with grief, many of which are connected to the Sesame Street program.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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