Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population, and that has helped make them an especially popular target for scammers. 

According to experts, the top three crimes affecting seniors are identity theft, Medicaid/Medicare and medication fraud, and financial exploitation.  Financial abuse alone is estimated to cost seniors nearly $3 billion a year.  Making matters worse it that many seniors won't report being victimized.  A recent AARP study found that only 25 percent of seniors have reported to authorities that they've fallen for a scam.

Good news, though!  Now, there are new tools for North Idaho seniors and their families to combat fraud, thanks to an alliance of advocacy groups, including local law enforcement.  You'll find them on the "Protect Seniors From Fraud" website.  One tool, called a Criminal Target Scale, will help family caregivers determine how likely their loved one is to be a scam victim.

More than 70 children got free dental exams and cleanings today. Dirne Community Health Center is reporting a successful “Give Kids a Smile” day, a national event that educates families and kids about how to access dental care.

Dirne Dental director, Dr. Justin Rader, says they had three time the kids this compared to last year.

With the help of community partners, Dirne Dental says they were able to provide more than $1 million of service discounts to about 6,000 uninsured clients in 2011. The health center works with about 12,000 clients in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Many people are blessed to have family and friends around them during Christmas.  Others are blessed to have the Athol Community Center.  It's spreading true Christmas cheer by making sure no one shares the special day alone.

The Center is once again hosting it's Traditional Christmas Dinner.  Hundreds of people fill up the Center every year.

Dinner starts at 1 pm on Christmas Day and runs until 5 o'clock.  The Athol Community Center is located next to the City Library at 30355 North 3rd Street.  

Not only is everyone invited, the Center says they'll deliver meals to those who can't make it in.  It also says it can pick you up and drive you to the Center.  Call 208-660-8374 to make arrangements.