Right at the beginning of the most recent district council meeting, District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo honoured the Saarpfalz district's senior citizens' safety advisors for their special voluntary commitment.
The "Senior Safety Advisor" project was initiated by the Merzig senior citizens' office, but has been established throughout Saarland since 2008. The free training courses are run by the police in cooperation with the senior citizens' advisory councils and the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Women and Health. Participants must be at least 55 years old and must not have a criminal record. The activity is free of charge and can be carried out flexibly at your own discretion.
The senior citizens' safety advisors provide information on criminal offences that older people in particular are confronted with. These include trick theft and fraud, glass and water scams, dubious coffee trips, property crime and fraudulent door-to-door sales. At the same time, they raise awareness of the issue of security, for example in road traffic, in the home and for correct behaviour at cash machines. They also provide information about smoke alarms, emergency call systems and existing help centres.
The work of the counsellors is supported by the Saarpfalz district. Among other things, the district organises meetings that invite exchange at district level, in which the police also take part. The work of the senior safety advisors can be varied and can range from individual counselling to presentations at senior meetings and groups. Their work also includes liaising between older people, local authorities and the police.
District Administrator Theophil Gallo considers it important to thank them in a public setting and prefers to do so in the presence of the members of the district council: "The senior citizens' safety advisors fulfil an important function in the immediate living environment of older people, who usually have an increased subjective need for safety - regardless of the actual threat they face in everyday life. We must take their fear of criminal offences seriously. Discussions about potential dangers and behavioural recommendations can go a long way towards countering fear. The senior citizens' safety advisors take a great deal of personal responsibility here and this special commitment in the area of crime prevention deserves our thanks and utmost respect."
There are currently 14 senior citizens' safety advisors in the Saarpfalz district, spread across Blieskastel, Bexbach, Mandelbachtal, Homburg and St. Ingbert. Further information and contact details can be found on the Saarpfalz district website in the senior citizens section.