Brianne Genschel, owner of The Foundry, a Farmington martial arts training center, and Jay police officer Nick Gulliver demonstrate the use of a stun gun at the annual SeniorsPlus Aging Well Mini-Expo in Kingfield on Thursday morning. (Valerie Tucker photo)

KINGFIELD — A Chesterville woman told those at a SeniorsPlus forum Thursday that she learned the importance of personal safety when she and her sister were robbed at gunpoint.

Lois Seamon, 87, said she discovered the need to be prepared after she and her sister were robbed while vacationing in another state. As they were returning to their car, a man pointed a gun at her head and demanded that both women give him their purses. They complied, she said, but her sister followed the robber, shouting and waving her umbrella.

“She used words I never heard her say in my whole life,” Seamon said.

Although she said she remained calm throughout the rest of the visit, she realized, when she returned home, that she was quite distraught and just hadn’t let the experience sink in. Today, she carries her pepper spray and whistle and is ready for any unexpected events.

Those items were mentioned by presenters at the Aging Well Mini-Expo at Kingfield Elementary School.

Brianne Genschel, owner of The Foundry, a Farmington martial arts training center, and Jay Police Department Officer Nick Gulliver said everyone should practice a few simple habits that can reduce the chances of physical assault, burglary and other dangers.

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“Just be aware of your surroundings,” Genschel told the audience.

The two explained that simple steps can make a big difference, such as locking car doors. Many self-defense weapons can be simple and inexpensive, they said. Stun guns may look like the best deterrent, but the user has to be close to the assailant to use it. If a stun gun only inflicts an uncomfortable shock, the victim hasn’t deterred the attacker and can make the situation worse, the presenters said.

“Don’t have a weapon if you’re not completely sure you’re going to be able to use it,” Genschel said.

Rather than a gun, individuals can purchase small containers of pepper spray, noisemakers and other easily carried and concealable items that will help deter attackers. Pepper spray is effective, but use a canister that shoots a stream of the liquid, because it travels farther and reduces the chance of blowing back in the user’s face, Genschel said.

“There are a lot of things you see in movies,” Gulliver said. “They aren’t the same in real life.”

The workshop on scams addressed the fact that the number of seniors falling victim to scams continues to rise. Audience members learned to identify red flags signaling a scam and the resources to report scams to state and federal agencies.

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The forum also addressed legal issues.

Mark Nale of Nale Law Offices in Waterville provided a concise overview of the legal and practical considerations of preparing and using wills, financial and medical powers of attorney, and trusts. His showed estate planning tools that can assist in the orderly and efficient handling and protection of assets.

He said as people make significant purchases, such as a house, have a spouse or partner, have children and a job, they forget the inevitable path to their senior years.

Nale said it’s not that the issues are complex and difficult to maneuver. Even younger adults may lack a plan for an unexpected early death, which can require that their financial affairs be handled in a way that they never intended.


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