AUGUSTA — So you plan to remain in your own home as long as you live? Maine seniors have repeatedly expressed this as their goal. Have you made the best plans for optimizing your savings, protecting them from fraud and scams and keeping yourself safe from physical and emotional abuse? Unfortunately there are too many accounts of elders being taken advantage of by people – even friends and family – whom they thought they could trust or these persons thought they knew best.

These questions, including what you can do if you or others you know have been exploited, will be addressed by a panel of experts at a public forum sponsored by the University of Maine at Augusta Senior College. This is the third of a series of forums on how older citizens can successfully – and safely – “Age in place … at Home.”

The panel will include Judith Shaw, securities administrator for the Maine Office of Securities, and co-chair of the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention. Shaw will describe key rules for maximizing retirement investments, and the many things you must do – or not do – to avoid fraud and deception. She will talk about whom you can turn to for help if you fear you are being tricked or cheated.

Denis Culley, the second panelist, is Legal Services for the Elderly’s first senior staff attorney. The 2014 recipient of the Thomas P. Downing Jr. Award for outstanding legal service to low-income clients, Culley will talk about his practice in representing and advocating for senior citizens. He will describe dealing with the aftermath of financial exploitation of the elderly, including obtaining judgments against, and return of funds and property from, relatives who cheated their elders.

The third member of the panel is Nan Bell, community educator of the Family Violence Project. A fierce proponent for the protection of the elderly from physical and emotional abuse, Bell will describe the extent, circumstances and different aspects of abuse, where you can turn for help and how you can help yourself or someone else you observe being subjected to abuse.

The forum will take place at Jewett Hall Auditorium at UMA from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Refreshments will be served at the 3 p.m. break, and the break will be followed by questions and answers between the panel and the audience.

A snow date will be the same time on Feb. 22.

All Senior College forums are free and open to the public. The UMA Senior college is open to all people 50 years of age and older, their spouses and partners. For further information, email umasc@uma.edu, call 621-3551 or visit www.umasc.org.