How Social Engineering Puts Senior Living at Risk
Let’s talk about one of the most overlooked threats in senior living tech today… people.
Specifically, people getting tricked. We’re talking about social engineering, a fancy term for scams that hack your staff, your residents, and sometimes even you.
What Is Social Engineering?
Think of it like a con artist in the digital age. A scammer pretends to be someone trustworthy (an IT tech, friend, family member) and uses that fake identity to get access to things they shouldn’t. Passwords. Payment approvals. Medical records. You name it.
They don’t break in. You invite them in.
Why This Hits Senior Living Harder Than Most
Senior living communities are built on compassion, helpfulness, and trust. That’s exactly what makes them incredible places to live and work… and unfortunately, it’s also what makes them easy targets.
Here’s why scammers love going after senior living:
Staff are busy, kind, and eager to help.
Not everyone is a tech expert (and that’s okay!)
Residents and their families may not know what to look out for.
There’s a lot of sensitive info floating around.
People Actually Fall for This Stuff?
Yes, and it’s more common than you might think. On a recent Raising Tech podcast episode, scam-baiting expert Kitboga talked about how professional scammers now run operations like actual businesses. These aren’t just random calls from someone asking for gift cards. These are well-researched, targeted scams (sometimes pretending to be trusted companies like Fidelity) convincing people to hand over entire retirement accounts. These scammers even go after senior living residents.
Here’s What You Can Do Right Now
You can’t install software to fix human error, but you can build awareness and smarter habits.
Start with this:
Make cybersecurity training an ongoing part of your community
Run fake phishing tests and learn from who clicks
Encourage a culture of “pause and double-check” before acting on urgent requests
Celebrate team members who catch scams and spread awareness
Use software programs like Seraph Secure to stop scams before they start
Where Parasol Alliance Comes In
We know social engineering isn’t a tech problem, it’s a culture problem. Here’s how we can help:
Simulate phishing attacks to strengthen your team’s instincts through Penetration Testing
Offer resident tech support through our Tech@Home program
Audit your whole system (people and process included) through our Technology Assessment & Strategic Roadmap
We also take care of the usual stuff (like HIPAA & PHI Compliance) with our cybersecurity package as well.
Stay Skeptical, Stay Safe
Social engineering is sneaky. It doesn’t come through the back door. It walks right in front.
With the right tools, tech partners, training, and culture in place, you can shut that door tight and keep your residents, staff, and systems safe.
Ready to see where your team stands? We’ll help you find the gaps and build a plan. Let’s make security feel like second nature. Let’s connect.