Carman Area RCMP recently wrapped up their second successful “Police Academy for Older Adults” in Gretna, MB.
19 cadets attended five sessions aimed at safety principals, skills and knowledge for older adults. This program, offered in partnership with the Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Secretariat, the Manitoba Association of Multipurpose Senior Centres, Manitoba Consumers Bureau, Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, the St. James/Assiniboia Senior Centre and Good Neighbours Senior Centre. Each week participants are introduced to new safety and security issues and given handout materials for future reference. On the final week participants are presented with a certificate and encouraged to share the information learned (each participant receives a binder with information on each topic) with other adults.
Held at the Gretna Prairie Senior Centre, the course consisted of five evening sessions covering topics such as Frauds, Scams and Identity Theft; Falls Prevention and Home Safety; Health and Safety in the Community; Elder Abuse; Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety; Planning for your Future and Safe Driving Habits.
The topics were delivered by different persons in various key professions such as occupational therapy, geriatric care, fire fighting, wills and estate planning, credit union/bank manager and RCMP.
The advisory committee consisted of Senior Centre board members and an RCMP member. The Town of Gretna and MB Seniors and Healthy Secretariat were supporters/sponsors of this venture.
Gretna Prairie Senior Centre hosted this event and added camaraderie and fun to the evenings. The registration fee included soup and desert followed by a presentation and finished with a question and answer period.
It is the second such venture for Carman Area RCMP. The area’s inaugural Police Academy was hosted earlier this year by Carman’s Active Senior Centre last Jan/February and (co) facilitated by Staff Sergeant Jo-Anne Prejet of Carman Area RCMP.
T.A. Figurski, Cpl
Altona Detachment
Carman Area RCMPolice
(204) 324 5217
