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Southgate at Shrewsbury

Retirement community near Shrewsbury and Worcester, MA

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1.800.492.8331

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independent living

Fast, Safe and Simple Digital Replacements For Your Checkbook

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We used checks for security and convenience. We didn’t have to go to the bank and withdraw cash—and it was becoming increasingly secure (thanks to a former fraudster named Frank Abagnale)! Carrying large amounts of cash to go pay rent or make a large purchase could be a bit nerve-wracking, so the checkbook became our way.

Well, checks are no longer the most secure and convenient way to process transactions. Thanks to technology, our own financial institutions, along with services like Zelle & Venmo, have made person-to-person payments significantly faster, easier and more secure.

In short, instead of worrying about those checks you sent your grandchildren in the mail arriving safely, what if you could send them a personal message along with the financial contents of that check in an instant without paying extra fees? And what if many merchants have also adopted this method of transaction?

This is not too good to be true, this is a great benefit of the digital age. The following services will allow you to transfer funds from your computer or mobile phone with newfound ease.

Your Financial Institution’s Online Banking Platform

The vast majority of financial institutions utilize online and/or mobile banking, allowing you to manage your money from anywhere. From local to international, most financial institutions also have a secure mobile app you can download to your phone.

Many of these online and mobile banking platforms will utilize services like online bill pay, granting you the security of transferring funds to an approved recipient on a weekly, monthly or annual basis directly through your financial institution.

Your bank or credit union may also have tutorials on their website to help you get acclimated to online banking. If not, the National Council on Aging has put together the Ready, Set, Bank™ program to help seniors become familiar with the securities and conveniences of online and mobile banking.

Zelle®

Zelle is a secure and easy way to send and receive money to and from family, friends and trusted sources directly from account to account. Zelle integrates with your bank to create a single pathway for your money to travel, instantly. It is commonly used to pay rent, split expenses with family & friends, and send money to loved ones. Many parents have even adopted Zelle as a way to introduce their children to banking and pay them allowance.

Although Zelle has not integrated with every financial institution, their list of partners and their overall convenience is growing. Check this list to see if your financial institution is a Zelle partner. If not, this next option also provides a social element that allows you to send notes and is great for gift-giving.

Venmo

Venmo is another secure person-to-person digital payment platform that allows you to instantly send money to anybody else with Venmo or with certain approved merchants. Venmo can be used both on the computer through an internet browser or through a mobile app on your phone. Google/Android | iPhone

The two big differences between Venmo and Zelle are the ability to craft more personalized notes in Venmo, and the fact that you don’t have to go through your financial institution’s online or mobile center to use it. Unlike Zelle, though, both parties involved in a Venmo transaction must have set up a Venmo account. This also allows you build up your contacts list in your Venmo to make it easier to send or request money from anyone you are connected with.

You can also use Venmo as a more secure way to send holiday money to grandchildren or to your children for filling out your grocery list in a way that is more personalized than Zelle. Although Zelle allows for an optional note with transfer, Venmo offers a more social element to the chat with unique emojis and gifs to spice up your birthday message or thank you note.

Like Zelle, the payments go directly from account-to-account, avoiding the mail and uncertain route of a paper check. This Venmo tutorial on YouTube will help you get started, quickly and easily.

You still may need to use a check every now and then, so having that checkbook safely at home is still a good idea, but for more secure and convenient management of your finances, digital is the way to go!

How To Spot Text Message Fraud & Avoid Scams

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Text Messaging

When it comes to spotting scams, it is important to scrutinize all forms of digital communication—particularly those that do not come from somebody you know. In recent year, this has become more important in regard to text or multimedia messages to your phone.

While there will always be nefarious actors trying to scam others, you can safeguard yourself by following some best practices to protect yourself from these text message fraudsters. It’s time to shut the door on scammers!

Do You Know The Sender? Are You in an Active Conversation with Them?

Text or multimedia messages from people you have saved into your contacts or are in active conversation with and know are safe, but with the continued rise of digital technology, text and multimedia messaging has increasingly been used as a marketing tool.

This means you may have opted in to receiving messages from certain retailers or services. It is very important to make sure you know the text message is legitimate before opening the message. If you have recently ordered something online, and receive a message from the retailer such as Amazon or Best Buy, or if you receive a message from a delivery service such as FedEx or UPS, these are legitimate messages. If you opted in for routine marketing texts from certain retailers and you aren’t sure, call them to make sure the text is legitimate before opening it.

If the marketing texts you receive from companies come from the same number, consider saving it in your contacts to mark it as safe.

Additionally, if a text message comes in from an unknown number and refers to you as “Customer” instead of your name or misspells your name, this is surefire sign the message is fraudulent.

Avoid Clicking Links

Unless the link is sent by someone you personally know and actively converse with, the best practice is just avoid opening links from messages, altogether. Because scammers have become quite adept at imitating genuine retailers and services, it is always best to log in to the interface directly through your computer or an internet application on your phone.

For instance, if FedEx sends you a tracking update text message, you can always enter the package number directly into their website or log in to track packages if you have an account. The vast majority of retailers and services will allow you to track things this way, which is much safer.

Block Fraudulent Callers & Texters

Each time you see a fraudulent text or receive a spammy phone call, immediately cease communications and block the phone number. This is very easy to do on most devices.

Some text messages will obviously be fraudulent. You may see misspellings or come across awkward use of English grammar. The supposed company may be misspelled by one letter or the link may contain a slight spelling error. These are dead giveaways—block them and move on.

Be sure to practice the above with your text messages, and you will stop fraudsters in their digital tracks!

What To Look For In a Retirement Community In 2021

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Congratulations! You’ve worked hard and have reached an exciting new phase of life wide open with possibilities—welcome to retirement!

So what now? How will you spend all that newfound free time? Where will you spend all that newfound free time?

You’ve decided to live in a retirement community, but with so many options, how do you begin to narrow it down?

Will The Community Fit Your Lifestyle?

You will want to make sure your retirement community offers easy access to the lifestyle you enjoy. Amenities and conveniences come in many shapes and sizes, so you should be able to make sure you have access to what you need to maximize the enjoyment of retirement.

Whether you’re more into physical activity, like to spend time outside or in the garden, enjoy pursuing more knowledge or simply gathering in social places, communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury have a wide variety of amenities and conveniences to ensure you not only adjust to life in retirement, but love it! With our on-site dining options, handicap-accessible garden, woodworking shop, gym and spa, extensive programming and so much more, Southgate is a great place for anyone to find what they are looking for in retirement. Check out our amenities here.

Convenience Is Key!

Convenience is Key
The pandemic has taught us all the true value of convenience and efficiency, and these are absolutely traits you should look for in a retirement community.

This applies not only to what they have on-site, but what is nearby. Do you have access to the healthcare you need or the shopping you desire? How about good food?

As we age, having access to great healthcare in an efficient manner becomes more important. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we not only have excellent on-site healthcare and wellness options, but are located near some of the most highly regarded hospitals and medical providers in the country.

In terms of shopping and conveniences, it is quite easy to make sure your favorite stores are nearby or that your favorite delivery services will ship to your community. Communities like Southgate even have convenience stores on site, along with other services like beauty salons and several different dining options.

Cleanliness & Friendliness

When looking for a place to spend your golden years, you certainly want to end up somewhere that is both clean and sanitary as well as friendly. A positive atmosphere goes a long way to ensuring you make the most of retirement.

When checking out independent living communities, be sure to inspect the common areas for organization and cleanliness. Does the staff seem to take pride in what they do? Do the residents take pride in their community? If the answer to both of those is “yes,” you will likely be greeted by a clean and organized facility.

Be sure to also check out the staff. Are they helpful and do they carry themselves with a positive demeanor? If you are to spend your golden years at a retirement community, the staff can be the thing that makes it extra special. This is a point of emphasis for all of us at Southgate at Shrewsbury. We both set the tone and encourage residents to be as involved as they want to be in helping to shape their community.

The Benefits of Living in a Retirement Community Right Now

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With social distancing and COVID-19 becoming a staple in our current everyday lives, living in a retirement community has a plethora of additional benefits that should be considered when looking at life after your career.

You’ve worked hard to get to this point—you should ensure you set yourself up to enjoy your retirement, pandemic or not! Residing at an independent living facility has its perks, regardless. The following are some extra benefits the pandemic has shown us an independent living community has.

A Built In Social Network

With a large, diverse group of residents, living in a retirement community contains a built-in social network to help you maintain a vibrant social life. During the pandemic, socially distanced activities can still be planned. At a facility like Southgate at Shrewsbury, our residents and support staff alike are active in making sure our residents have something to keep them engaged despite the challenges a pandemic can cause.

Safe & Enclosed Facility

During unusual circumstances like a pandemic, a retirement community functions as a walled-off safe zone, which further protects residents from the virus. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, our attentive staff ensures our campus remains free of unnecessary risk so our residents can enjoy a calmer lifestyle.

On-Site Support Services & Staff

If you’re considering a retirement community like Southgate, you’ll notice the many on-site services, amenities and conveniences that allow for less travel into the outside world. On top of that, the staff operating these facilities are always ready to assist residents.

At Southgate, you will find convenient medical care on campus, a convenience store, multiple dining options, a beauty salon, a health spa and much more. For your enjoyment, there is also a library, swimming pool, candlepin bowling alley, woodworking studio, handicap-accessible garden and more.

While the pandemic has brought with it many challenges, choosing to live in a retirement community can be a solution to many of them by providing you with a safe environment insulated from unnecessary risks. You will find an exciting social community, wonderful living facilities and enough conveniences, services and activities to keep you engaged throughout your golden years.