Seniors deserve to live in safety

North Bay Police Service
News Release

********************

Crime Prevention Week – November 4th – 10th, 2012
Crime Prevention is EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY!

Do your part to build strong and safe communities:

1. Discuss crime prevention with your family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers.

2. Protect your family, your property and yourself.

3. Get involved in your community.

4. Speak up for victims of crime.
Theme of the day – “Senior deserve to live in safety”


Any action or inaction that harms or threatens to harm a senior citizen or vulnerable adult is abuse. It may begin as disrespect or insensitivity and end as a crime.


Who are the Abusers?

• Close relatives of the victim.
• Persons with control or influence over the senior.
• Unscrupulous persons or businesses.



Victims of abuse often suffer in silence. Help to protect the vulnerable by learning to spot various forms of abuse:
Financial
• Theft/misuse of a senior’s money of assets
• Misuse of a Power of Attorney
• Telemarketing/other fraud, extortion or forgery
Neglect
• Abandoning a vulnerable senior citizen
• Failure to provide medical/health services
• Failure to supply necessities of life (intentional or not)
• Deliberate social isolation
• Verbal abuse
• Frightening, insulting or threatening seniors
Psychological
• Deliberate social isolation
• Verbal abuse
• Frightening, insulting or threatening seniors
Physical
• Kicking, shoving, hitting, pulling hair
• Sexual assault
• Forcible confinement


Why abuse is seldom reported

• Fear of being institutionalized
• Embarrassment, guilt and shame
• Fear of punishment or retaliation by the abuser
What can be done to prevent this crime?

1. GET INVOLVED!
Keep a watchful eye out for loved ones and vulnerable persons. Speak up if you are concerned.

2. BE PRUDENT!
Don’t hand over money or information on personal finances to strangers or untrustworthy persons.

3. ASK FOR HELP!
You’re not alone. Police officers, doctors, nurses, social workers and faith leaders can and will help.


Tomorrow’s theme of the day – “Don’t make it easy to become a victim, be aware of your surroundings”

********************