Respect aging Respect Aging Preventing Violence against Older

Respect aging Respect Aging: Preventing Violence against Older Persons Section 2: PREVENTION Module 11: Safety planning Violence Prevention Initiative

Respect aging Agenda • Welcome • Learning • • Small together: Safety planning group activity • Reporting • Wrap-up back to whole group / Evaluation

Respect aging Safety planning… • Is a process in which an older person and a trusted helper work together to ensure the older person’s safety in advance of any crisis.

Respect aging Five strategies for safety planning 1. Prevention 2. Protection 3. Notification 4. Referral 5. Emotional support

Respect aging Sandra’s Story • Sandra and Gerard, both 79 • Married 55 years • Gerard is an alcoholic • Gerard is violent • Sandra wants to leave • Sandra cannot read or write

Respect aging 1. Prevention • Preventing future violence.

Respect aging 2. Protection • Looking at ways older persons can protect themselves during a violent incident.

Respect aging 3. Notification • Planning ahead for ways to get help in a crisis.

Respect aging 4. Referral • Finding services that can help.

Respect aging 5. Emotional support • Finding emotional support and ways to become less isolated.

Respect aging What you can do as a helper… • Build rapport and listen actively • Learn the fears of the older person and the possible result of threats • Ask what the older person wants to do, and why • Learn about the motivation of decisions • Suggest options • Brainstorm together

Respect aging What not to do as a helper… • Tell the older person what to do • Make referrals • Impose • Talk your values to the perpetrator • Recommend • Blame plan risky strategies the older person for not following the safety

Respect aging Helper safety Before you go: • Call ahead • Cell phone with essential numbers • Inform others • Don’t go alone • Know the area, bring a map • Carry only what you need

Respect aging Helper safety During a visit: • Do not enter if uneasy • Ask driver to wait • Give cell number to driver • Stay near exit door • Check for weapons • Leave if threatened • Shout “Fire!”

Respect aging Safety planning… …involves problem-solving in advance.