Police visit old-age homes
Police want to ensure the safety of elderly people in old-age homes.
Atteridgeville police are doing their part in preventing abuse against the elderly. As part of the 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children, Atteridgeville police visited old-age homes in the area with tips to combat abuse of women and children, police said on Thursday.
Atteridgeville police spokesman Captain Thomas Mufumadi said the aim was to educate elderly people about taking care of themselves and their monthly pension. “We wanted them to be aware of any abuse they might be suffering in old-age homes, whether they were being beaten up or their pension money being taken from them without their consent.”
Mufumadi said police also wanted to ensure the safety of elderly people in old age homes. “Most of these old-age homes in the townships are broken into – especially at night. As the Atteridgeville police we would be visiting these old-age homes quite frequently, to ensure that the elderly were safe.”
Residents at the old-age centre were happy about a police presence on the day. “They were very happy to see us and some of them even told us to come back again, because they felt a whole lot safer with us around.”
A number of tips were handed to the elderly on how to deal with strangers when returning home from their pension grant pay-points. “They must not accept lifts from strangers. One elderly man last month was given a lift by four women. When he got in the car they robbed him of his pension grant.”
Mufumadi said when elderly people went to collect their monthly pension they should be accompanied by people they can trust.
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Also read: Become aware of violence against women and children
What 16 Days of activism should mean for you
