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Seniors learn health and safety

Jul 16, 2009

— Senior citizens had the opportunity Thursday to learn how to protect themselves as well as received preventive health and safety measures.
The Laurel/Jones County TRIAD and the Seniors And Lawmen Together (S.A.L.T.) Council conducted a Senior Safety Health Fair in the center court of Sawmill Square Mall.
Several agencies came together to provide the senior community information and services that are available to them.
Elma Portero with Retired Senior Volunteer Program, secretary of the TRIAD/S.A.L.T., said every year the group sponsors a major project to show the senior population its concern for them.
This year, the group chose to conduct the health fair, which is the first one of its kind conducted by TRIAD/S.A.L.T.
Portero said the Council’s goal was to provide a service to the population in which its agencies serve on the daily basis.
So, along with the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross providing blood pressure checks, several agencies were on hand to inform and provide assistance to the senior citizens of the area.
Officials said the group identified a need and began working to put the health fair together.
“Today is a special day for our senior population,” said Deborah Warren, chairperson of TRIAD/S.A.L.T. Council. “They are able to stop by and get information on scams, elderly abuse, get their blood pressure checked, pick up items like house numbers so emergency personnel can find them in case of emergencies.”
Warren said participants were also given the opportunity to receive free picture IDs and enjoyed lunch sponsored by Chick-fil-a and Roy Rogers Body Shop.
Staff Sgt. Mark Evans with the Laurel Police Department and Melicia “Teya” Cooper with the LPD Advocacy Program were on hand passing out carbon monoxide alarms, emergency safety hazard lights, flashlights and panic alarms with flashlights.
“We want to make sure that our seniors are prepared for whatever situation they are confronted with,” Cooper said.
Evans said it’s important for people of all ages to know “what they need to do to make themselves safe and avoid becoming a victim.”
“We are here to make sure that the seniors are looked out for,” Evans said. “We want to make sure they are taken care of and what they need.”
Bobbie Creel, who attended the event, said her daughter informed her of the event and she decided to “come see what it was like.”
Creel said by attending the health fair she was reminded about a lot of safety issues from the event.
“It’s a good time to come out and get your blood pressure checked and get information about things affecting you,” Creel said. “It’s a wonderful event. All of it. ...It refreshed my memory and it opened my eyes about some things.”
Stephanie Santos, clinic services coordinator for the Center for Pregnancy Choices, said the event gave her agency an opportunity to meet and talk with a segment of the population that most people think do not need her center’s services.
“It’s important for all ages to know what we do,” Santos said. “There’s so many elderly people caring for their grandchildren. .... We receive a lot of calls from grandparents concerned about their grandchildren in certain situations and we provide information and services to them.”
Officials said the health fair was able to be conducted through the help of local agencies and businesses along with a grant from the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging, which is a part of the Mississippi Public Safety Division.
“This is the end of our grant year and we just wanted to focus on the people we serve,” said Portero, who is also on the state commission of the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Board. “The event turned out well because we tried to bring in all the agencies that service this special population.”
Wayne Parker, director of the Mississippi Leadership Council based in Jackson, also attended the event.
“We wanted to show how we could best protect our senior population and this health fair was a wonderful idea,” Parker said. “We have everything here from crime prevention to health care and protection services.
“This event also shows the seniors that there is a large group of people who care about them,” he said. “The TRIAD is the car, but the S.A.L.T. is the engine that makes it go and they are all here today. ... It’s a great network.”
TRIAD/S.A.L.T. Council is an organization designed for Crime Prevention for the Elderly.
The S.A.L.T. Council is a senior advisory council that governs TRIAD.
Focusing on crime, the Council explores programs and recommends those which will benefit seniors, stressing involving older volunteers in the achievement of its objectives.
National recognition of the program began in 1988.
Jones County was the 19th county in Mississippi to organize the groups.

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