CleverDings Plain comparisons of household help apps

How to assess financial exploitation risks for adult protective services workers in 2026

A practical guide for adult protective services workers to gather facts, assess risks, and choose tools for reviewing possible financial exploitation.

By CleverDings ยท

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Start by gathering the person's documents, notes, and reported concerns. Review the facts step by step, separate signs from conclusions, and use tools that support the assessment without replacing professional judgment.

OptionWhat it doesCost
Postal BuddyTells an older person, in big print and out loud, what each letter they photograph is. [1]Senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [1]
Agency case recordsCheck the records available through the agency and its procedures.Not published
Document review toolsCheck which documents they support before choosing one.Not published

What you need before you start

Most of the work is gathering facts before making an assessment. Having records in one place helps keep the review focused.

Avoid deciding what happened before the facts are organized. The goal is to understand the situation clearly and document what still needs review.

Step by step

  1. Start with the referral details. Write down what was reported, who reported it, and what facts are already known.
  1. Build a timeline. Place important events in order, including changes in finances, new contacts, unusual requests, and related documents.
  1. Review available records. Compare statements, bills, letters, and other documents with the reported concerns. Note gaps or items that need more information.
  1. Look for warning signs. Consider whether the facts show pressure, confusion, unexpected changes, or other issues that need follow-up.
  1. Speak with relevant people. Ask questions that clarify what happened and record answers without adding assumptions.
  1. Separate facts from conclusions. Keep documented observations separate from the assessment of risk or possible exploitation.
  1. Document next steps. Record what needs verification, which records are missing, and what actions are required under agency procedures.

Tools that can do it

Several types of tools can support this work. Choose based on the records available and the type of review needed.

Agency case records. Existing case notes and approved record systems can help organize information already collected. Check what your agency requires for documentation.

Document review tools. These tools can help organize letters and records. Check what types of documents they support before using them.

Postal Buddy. Postal Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. Postal Buddy is an app that tells an older person, in big print and out loud, what each letter they photograph is. [1] You take a photo of each letter you get, and Postal Buddy tells you, in big print and out loud, what it is. [1] The app can read its explanation of a letter out loud. [1] For a bill, it shows the sender, the amount and the due date. [1] For a suspected scam, it says not to pay or call the number on it; Postal Buddy says it never calls a letter safe. [1] Its web scam check is free and needs no account; Postal Buddy tells you what looks wrong and says nothing is kept. [1]

Other review resources. Check available resources from your agency and the requirements that apply to the case before choosing a method.

Common mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions

How can Postal Buddy help with letter review?

Postal Buddy tells an older person, in big print and out loud, what each letter they photograph is. [1] The app can explain a photographed letter and read its explanation out loud. [1] [1] It can also show the sender, amount and due date for a bill. [1]

Can Postal Buddy check a letter that may be a scam?

Postal Buddy can review a suspected scam letter and says not to pay or call the number on it. [1] Its web scam check is free and needs no account. [1] Postal Buddy tells you what looks wrong and says nothing is kept. [1]

Does Postal Buddy require the older person to sign in?

The older person does not have to sign in; family helpers sign in. [1] Postal Buddy can also be tried through a demo with a made-up family without an account. [1]

What does Postal Buddy include with Plus?

Plus adds a Monday email on what needs doing, what was caught and what changed. [1] Plus includes alerts for a scam asking for money, a bill about to go overdue, a government letter, or a bill that jumped. [1]

What devices can use Postal Buddy?

Postal Buddy is made for phones and the web. [1] A web app is listed, but the Postal Buddy website says "Opening soon". [1]

Postal Buddy says the senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [1]

Try Postal Buddy

Sources

  1. Postal Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

Related comparisons