Elderly educated on how to protect themselves

AIMED at educating and empowering the elderly on how to protect themselves, the Brighton Beach police embarked on its Aged @ Risk awareness campaign at Hillside Mall, Bluff Towers Mall, and Bluff Shopping Centre, recently.

Captain Louise le Roux, the station’s spokesperson and the campaign facilitator, said she was joined by retired reservist Captain Avril Fabre, 64, to create awareness on the threats that the elderly are exposed to on a daily basis and to educate them.

She said Fabre was a serving member of the reserve police service for 22 years and stationed in the Brighton Beach Policing precinct.
Le Roux said during the four hour beat, 1 000 information guides were distributed to the elderly at the malls, many of which were collecting their older persons grant.

She said the aim of the initiative was to create safety awareness among the elderly as they were often targeted by criminals due to being more vulnerable.

“It has been found that the aged are predominantly susceptible to acts of violence, or threats of violence being imposed upon them, as their ability to fight off an attacker or attackers is compromised due their lack of physical strength.

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“Furthermore, aging also causes a decline in memory ability, which often affects logical thinking, decision making processes and recalling. Those with criminal intentions prey on these facts related to the aged with the intention of imposing acts of deceit and defrauding them. The fragility of the aged also makes them more susceptible to physical and mental abuse by those known and unknown to them,” she said.

Le Roux said the information guide provides guidelines on minimising the risk of falling prey theft by snatching, pickpocketing, robbery, among other crimes, as well as provides safety tips while at the ATM.

“It also provides guidelines on how to minimise being kidnapped from a mall, and explains the ‘shopping buddy’ system. The information guide also explains the various categories of abuse aged persons are exposed to by persons known and unknown to them,” she said.

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Le Roux said the elderly were also given an information guide on domestic violence.

“The guide provides information on what actions imposed on an aged person constitutes domestic violence. It also explains how they can apply for an interim protection order, the purpose of the interim protection order, and the process that will follow for a final protection order being granted,” she said.

Le Roux said both information guides also contained the contact details of support organisations which can assist the vulnerable in sourcing assistance.

“Through such collaborations with the business sector and civilians in society, the police is able to achieve its strategic objectives of creating vigilance on prevailing social-ills within society, that threatens the wellness and safety of aged persons within communities,” she said.

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