Guilford County seniors academy graduates class focused on scam prevention

A free Guilford County class ended Wednesday with graduates who spent four weeks learning how to spot scams, protect their finances and find help before small problems became emergencies. The Seniors Academy is open to adults 55 and older and their caregivers.

The program focuses on risks older adults face every day: scams and fraud, home safety, legal readiness and estate planning, elder abuse awareness, health information and the local county and city resources that many people never use until a crisis hits. One graduate said the sessions helped her learn about health topics, legal planning and support services people may not know exist.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has warned residents about scam calls in which criminals impersonate deputies or court officials and use spoofed phone numbers to pressure people into paying immediately. The academy uses real-life examples from the community to show how quickly those schemes can drain savings and how often that money never comes back.

The class is run through the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office with Senior Resources of Guilford, the county’s largest nonprofit provider of community-based services for older adults. In a county of about 520,230 people, roughly 20% are over age 60.

An earlier 2026 session was scheduled for April 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, with registration required and space limited to 20 participants. The next academy session is planned for November, and residents can contact retired Sgt. Tara Gilchrist for details. Graduates were told they would receive a certificate after completing the course.