Senior Safe: keeping older people safer for longer

Feeling safe and happy is important, no matter what your age, and a new scheme is helping a number of older people to feel safer both in their home and when they are out and about in Torbay.

Senior Safe is being delivered by  Safer Communities Torbay, and is designed to tackle older people’s community safety concerns and problems head on.

It answers many of the questions and concerns which were raised by residents during the 2010 ‘You Said We Did’ consultations.

The Senior Safe initiative is the second stage of actions Safer Communities Torbay has put into place following feedback from local older people in Torbay, the first being a successful project aimed at bridging the generational gap between Torbay’s older and younger residents.

The Senior Safe service provides up-to-date safety information specifically designed for older citizens. Topics covered include fire prevention in the home, not falling foul to mail scams and bogus callers, driving safer for longer and information about anti-social behaviour and how to report it.

In partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Torbay Council and local housing schemes  Safer Communities Torbay is hoping that Senior Safe will help older people in Torbay by providing relevant information in a suitable format about the services provided by those agencies.

The events are hosted by Safer Communities Torbay with representatives from a range of each services who provide community safety information and advice.

By using personnel to communicate the messages as well as the use of short films and presentations, the messages are not only more personal but relevance can be tailored to a specific location.

Supporting literature and guidance is also provided in packs to ensure that the safety messages are continued and shared to a wider audience.

Despite Senior Safe only being in the initial pilot stages of its development, Tamzin James, Partnership Sergeant for Safer Communities Torbay, said: “Torbay is a relatively safe place to live, but all of us tend to make judgements about how safe we feel based on our own experiences, what our friends and family say and what we read in the media.

“Sometimes knowledge really is power and can help people to feel more confident to go out and do things, like visiting friends and family. Often staying safe is about taking simple steps and precautions.

“By giving older people relevant and up to date information and advice from a range of sources, all in the one place through the Senior Safe project, we hope that they will be able to help themselves to stay safe and happy.”

Councillor Louisa Aiton, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, said: “Feeling confident and safe is incredibly important, and for some older people that’s not the case. Safer Communities Torbay has developed Senior Safe in direct response to concerns raised by some of Torbay’s older generation through consultations.

“It focuses on giving people the knowledge and skills they need to help keep themselves safe. As Senior Safe is in the early stages, we will trial it and change it based on what people need. The safety of our parents and grandparents should be the responsibility of the whole community, not just the immediate family.

“It is hoped that eventually Senior Safe may be run by local volunteers throughout Torbay in order to give greater community involvement and empowerment.”

For more information about Senior Safe or to apply for a Senior Safe email scatt@torbay.gov.uk or call 01803 841274.