SIGforum
I need to vent, also opinions please.
July 07, 2023, 02:29 PM
Twist18I need to vent, also opinions please.
So my mom, who will be 71 this year, is a bit of a kook, I guess you could say. She doesn’t believe in doctors, sees this woman she calls a “practitioner” for her health care (online and/or by phone), and pays this woman a ton, I’m sure for her diagnoses, supplements, etc. This is just scratching the surface of her kookiness, but I digress.
She calls me a little while ago, telling me she’s having some “5G/EMF blocker” shipped to us. She knows we don’t share her nutty ideas, but wants us to “humor” her. She tells me the website where she bought this thing from,
https://ultraluxhealth.com/, she tells me she got us the largest one……………$6500!!!!!!!!
So, my question, anything to this 5G danger stuff? From what I’ve found it seems to be fine.
Plus, when we leave the house we have no “protection”, so what’s the difference?
July 07, 2023, 02:34 PM
RogueJSKYour mom is being taken advantage of by snake oil salesmen and scam artists.
July 07, 2023, 02:35 PM
1flynDOAs a board certified physician I would say no. When Covid came out I did not get the shot. Never in my personal or professional life would I say the government would knowingly fuck people over like they did. So now I just don’t know? Who the fuck knows.
July 07, 2023, 02:35 PM
1flynDOI would second what rouge has said.
July 07, 2023, 02:36 PM
HRKSorry you have to go through this, the same happens with my father who is 85, although he's not a Kook or seeing some supplement pushing pseudo doc, he did buy into several TV supplements.
I finally got him to stop, and had to call and stop some recurring shipments, lucky nothing in the range your mom spent.
Sounds like she spends a lot of time on the internet and TV looking at these ads and needs some help dealing with the problem of buying, it isn't easy to fix.
July 07, 2023, 02:37 PM
RogueJSKIf she's always been a "hippie/new age kook" and is able to comfortably afford stuff like this, it's one thing. She can do what she wants with her money, even if you disagree with it and know she's buying snake oil.
If this is new, she's not able to afford these kind of things, and is actively putting herself in a bad financial situation by throwing money she doesn't have at stuff like this, it may be time to consider discussing gaining power of attorney (or similar) to manage her finances for her.
Especially if she's showing other signs of mental decline.
July 07, 2023, 02:42 PM
p113565I have no idea how to suggest you should investigate or pursue but this may fall under elder abuse.
If you know about this one parasite there are probably others taking advantage of her that you aren’t yet aware of
Billy
July 07, 2023, 02:54 PM
Twist18She’s gotten progressively nuttier over the years…………the stories I could tell!
I don’t think I have any recourse to try and take power of attorney or anything, but she’s wasting her money. She recently told me she’d like to re-do her whole back yard but doesn’t have the money for that, so I suspect she’s dropping tons of money on this nonsense.
She sold her home here in the Bay Area back in 2017, for just over $1 million, I don’t know what her mortgage was, but it certainly wasn’t near the value of the home. She bought a place in Oregon for $515k, and sold that in 2021 for $699, and is now in Arizona, where she paid $400-something for the house she’s in now. Between the home sales, and her retirement, she should have PLENTY of money.
July 07, 2023, 02:55 PM
Russ59Can you ship it back and ask for a refund, even a partial one? At least all of the $6500 won't go to waste.
I didn't click on the link, but $6500 seems to be rather steep for kooky conspiracy theory garbage. It's usually $99 with easy installments and free shipping.
P229
July 07, 2023, 02:56 PM
thumperfbcI think it is possible that any new wireless technology that comes along may have long-term effects that we aren't yet aware of... that certainly seems a reasonable train of that.
But also what Rogue said in spades. Big big spades.
July 07, 2023, 02:58 PM
Twist18quote:
Originally posted by thumperfbc:
I think it is possible that any new wireless technology that comes along may have long-term effects that we aren't yet aware of... that certainly seems a reasonable train of that.
But also what Rogue said in spades. Big big spades.
I agree, it could have long term effects……….but I wonder what this……….thing………she’s sending is going to do to “protect” us? LOL
July 07, 2023, 03:02 PM
Russ59quote:
Originally posted by Twist18:
Between the home sales, and her retirement, she should have PLENTY of money.
OK, so I went to their website. I'll generalize that many weird and non-science garbage comes from that area of the country. Essential oil HQ is in that same area.
Are you able to set down with your mom to discuss finances or with her financial advisor? She's mentioned to you about not having the $$ for the backyard renovation, but can drop $$$ on a quackery? Propose it as a "financial check-up."
While my mother wasn't burning through cash, she was becoming susceptible to scammers etc. Now with a dementia diagnosis, she has zero access to her money. My brother handles her finances with many backstops in place.
P229
July 07, 2023, 03:04 PM
thumperfbcI also poked around the website... they claim a 30 day return, excepting return shipping. The shipping weight is 75lbs and the box is 30x30x10, so it'll cost a few bucks to send back for sure, but it beats the alternative.
https://ultraluxhealth.com/return-policies/July 07, 2023, 03:06 PM
ZSMICHAELSee an Elder law attorney for a visit. They deal with this all the time and can give you some direction.
July 07, 2023, 03:08 PM
architectInsufficient information for providing opinion. Key element (as stated by Rogue): is she well off enough financially to afford to indulge her "kooky" purchases? If so, mark it down to entertainment. If not, or if she is asking you to pay her bills, it might be time to consider an intervention with the assistance of trusted friends, and other family members. If you are worried that she is spending money that you want to inherit some day, the problem is not with your mom.
And, yes, the anti-EMF coils are a scam (even if they actually work as described). A descendant of the "sleeping under the power line" scares of a few decades ago.
Another avenue might be to find an alternative way for her to have fun, maybe gardening, cycling, a senior recreation group, quilting club, or whatever. Sure, it might cost her as much or more, but at least it won't be doing her harm.
July 07, 2023, 03:10 PM
Twist18quote:
Originally posted by Russ59:
quote:
Originally posted by Twist18:
Between the home sales, and her retirement, she should have PLENTY of money.
OK, so I went to their website. I'll generalize that many weird and non-science garbage comes from that area of the country. Essential oil HQ is in that same area.
Are you able to set down with your mom to discuss finances or with her financial advisor? She's mentioned to you about not having the $$ for the backyard renovation, but can drop $$$ on a quackery? Propose it as a "financial check-up."
While my mother wasn't burning through cash, she was becoming susceptible to scammers etc. Now with a dementia diagnosis, she has zero access to her money. My brother handles her finances with many backstops in place.
No way, she’d never go for that, unfortunately. She’s really a “true believer” in this garbage. She doesn’t have a financial advisor. Also, the reason she left Oregon (at least I think) is because she had a minor stroke (TIA), and was put on actual medication, by actual doctors. She spent three days in the hospital, because the main problem became getting her blood pressure under control. She moved shortly after that, I believe, because she was just running away from these doctors.
July 07, 2023, 03:13 PM
Twist18quote:
Originally posted by architect:
Insufficient information for providing opinion. Key element (as stated by Rogue): is she well off enough financially to afford to indulge her "kooky" purchases? If so, mark it down to entertainment. If not, or if she is asking you to pay her bills, it might be time to consider an intervention with the assistance of trusted friends, and other family members. If you are worried that she is spending money that you want to inherit some day, the problem is not with your mom.
And, yes, the anti-EMF coils are a scam (even if they actually work as described). A descendant of the "sleeping under the power line" scares of a few decades ago.
Another avenue might be to find an alternative way for her to have fun, maybe gardening, cycling, a senior recreation group, quilting club, or whatever. Sure, it might cost her as much or more, but at least it won't be doing her harm.
Can she afford this stuff? I guess she can, but it’s concerning that she seems to be able to afford this garbage, but not having her yard redone. She’s not asking us for money, but at this rate, I wouldn’t be shocked if she doesn’t start asking sometime in the near future.
July 07, 2023, 03:24 PM
jhe888I am quite certain that the so-called EMF shielding device is useless, and I cannot understand how it would even do what it purports to do. I certainly do not believe that even if it does block EMFs that this is a benefit. I can't help but wonder if making the claims they make is even legal. If it blocks EMF transmissions as it claims, it should make cell phones, radios, and broadcast television non-functional in her house.
I do not know how you can stop her from buying this, but I am sure that this product is modern-day snake oil. It is a scheme to part kooks from their money.
Unless she is truly incompetent, which is high bar to cross, she is free to piss away her money on foolish schemes and devices.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. July 07, 2023, 03:30 PM
Twist18quote:
Originally posted by jhe888:
I am quite certain that the so-called EMF shielding device is useless, and I cannot understand how it would even do what it purports to do. I certainly do not believe that even if it does block EMFs that this is a benefit. I can't help but wonder if making the claims they make is even legal. If it blocks EMF transmissions as it claims, it should make cell phones, radios, and broadcast television non-functional in her house.
I do not know how you can stop her from buying this, but I am sure that this product is modern-day snake oil. It is a scheme to part kooks from their money.
Unless she is truly incompetent, which is high bar to cross, she is free to piss away her money on foolish schemes and devices.
She doesn’t have on in her house……….yet………she ordered one for herself and one for us. You’re right, I really don’t think there is anything I can do about her pissing away her money. I just worry about having to care for her, and dealing with this nuttiness, as she gets older.
July 07, 2023, 03:31 PM
Twist18quote:
Originally posted by Twist18:
quote:
Originally posted by jhe888:
I am quite certain that the so-called EMF shielding device is useless, and I cannot understand how it would even do what it purports to do. I certainly do not believe that even if it does block EMFs that this is a benefit. I can't help but wonder if making the claims they make is even legal. If it blocks EMF transmissions as it claims, it should make cell phones, radios, and broadcast television non-functional in her house.
I do not know how you can stop her from buying this, but I am sure that this product is modern-day snake oil. It is a scheme to part kooks from their money.
Unless she is truly incompetent, which is high bar to cross, she is free to piss away her money on foolish schemes and devices.
She doesn’t have one in her house……….yet………she ordered one for and one for us. You’re right, I really don’t think there is anything I can do about her pissing away her money. I just worry about having to care for her, and dealing with this nuttiness, as she gets older.