TRIAD program launched (June 27, 2008)
By Emma Bouthillette
Staff Writer
Members of the Gorham Police Department joined St. Anne’s Church’s senior luncheon to present a new community policing program, TRIAD, which is an alliance of senior citizens, law enforcement officers and members of the town’s community services program.
TRIAD is a national program with the prime objective of keeping senior citizens safe, said Susan Germano, community service director for Home Instead Senior Care in Gorham.
“I’m here to see what this is all about,” said Gorham resident Fernand Gaudrea, who was one of some 125 seniors present at the June 18 luncheon.
“The goal for TRIAD is to create a partnership, to advise and be a resources for senior citizens,” Gorham Police Officer Ted Hatch said.
Across the country there are 800 active TRIADs, with 19 programs in Maine. Hatch said Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard gave him the task to bring TRIAD to Gorham.
“I didn’t know where to start. The people from Home Instead are a really big help because they know a lot about senior services,” Hatch said.
Along with Home Instead Senior Care and the Gorham Police Department, Hatch organized members from the Gorham Parks and Recreation Department, Gorham Fire and Rescue Departments, Maine Association of Police, AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Bay Square at Yarmouth, Legal Services for the Elderly, VNA Home Health and Hospice, Hospice of Southern Maine, Maine Medical Center and Southern Maine Agency on Aging to comprise Gorham’s TRIAD. These organizations will collaborate to identify needs of the elder community and be a voice for those who would otherwise be silent, Maine Association of Police Executive Director Paul Gaspar said.
Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion shared with the audience how he was raised to understand that getting older isn’t a bad thing and the importance of elders in the community.
“I don’t believe in isolation of senior citizens. It works best when senior citizens are a part of the community. They play a role in telling our children the spectrum of growing old and like experiences between young and old,” Dion said.
The role seniors will play in this program is telling TRIAD what they need to feel safe.
Gaspar initiated an icebreaker activity.
“In your community, what is something that makes you wonder ‘What is going on in the world today?’ Write down items that concern you,” Gaspar said.
Each table of seniors generated a list of common concerns including neighborhood safety, phone and Internet scams, identity theft, threats of being put in a nursing home, emotional and physical abuse, relatives taking their money, lack of transportation, road safety, heating costs, increasing taxes and being ignored.
Gaspar said an important component of an area’s TRIAD program is the SALT council, which is Seniors and Law Enforcement Together. Hatch asked for at least 12 to 15 seniors to sign up to be a part of this small group committed to advising TRIAD. Members of SALT will conduct home surveys, crime prevention education, recruit volunteers and inform TRIAD of the community’s needs, Hatch said.
After the meeting Glenda Deschaine, 88, wondered if TRIAD could help her situation.
“Where I am on MaineCare, it is impossible to get into an assisted living facility. They only accept one MaineCare resident once in awhile,” Deschaine said.
Louise Thurston, 84, stopped to talk with Hatch before she left the luncheon.
“I lost my husband and never learned how to drive, so I’m stuck at home. I’ll walk to get the few groceries I can carry. I even walked here today,” Thurston said.
“This is a way to identify concerns. The SALT council can help to establish volunteers. Maybe people who have vehicles,” Hatch said.
TRIAD members will meet July 11 to review the responses from the luncheon and set up the SALT council. For more information, please contact Susan Germano of Home Instead 605-4374, Stacey Farrington of Maine Medical Center 839-7354 or Officer Ted Hatch 839-5581, ext. 279.
Staff Writer
Members of the Gorham Police Department joined St. Anne’s Church’s senior luncheon to present a new community policing program, TRIAD, which is an alliance of senior citizens, law enforcement officers and members of the town’s community services program.
TRIAD is a national program with the prime objective of keeping senior citizens safe, said Susan Germano, community service director for Home Instead Senior Care in Gorham.
“I’m here to see what this is all about,” said Gorham resident Fernand Gaudrea, who was one of some 125 seniors present at the June 18 luncheon.
“The goal for TRIAD is to create a partnership, to advise and be a resources for senior citizens,” Gorham Police Officer Ted Hatch said.
Across the country there are 800 active TRIADs, with 19 programs in Maine. Hatch said Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard gave him the task to bring TRIAD to Gorham.
“I didn’t know where to start. The people from Home Instead are a really big help because they know a lot about senior services,” Hatch said.
Along with Home Instead Senior Care and the Gorham Police Department, Hatch organized members from the Gorham Parks and Recreation Department, Gorham Fire and Rescue Departments, Maine Association of Police, AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Bay Square at Yarmouth, Legal Services for the Elderly, VNA Home Health and Hospice, Hospice of Southern Maine, Maine Medical Center and Southern Maine Agency on Aging to comprise Gorham’s TRIAD. These organizations will collaborate to identify needs of the elder community and be a voice for those who would otherwise be silent, Maine Association of Police Executive Director Paul Gaspar said.
Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion shared with the audience how he was raised to understand that getting older isn’t a bad thing and the importance of elders in the community.
“I don’t believe in isolation of senior citizens. It works best when senior citizens are a part of the community. They play a role in telling our children the spectrum of growing old and like experiences between young and old,” Dion said.
The role seniors will play in this program is telling TRIAD what they need to feel safe.
Gaspar initiated an icebreaker activity.
“In your community, what is something that makes you wonder ‘What is going on in the world today?’ Write down items that concern you,” Gaspar said.
Each table of seniors generated a list of common concerns including neighborhood safety, phone and Internet scams, identity theft, threats of being put in a nursing home, emotional and physical abuse, relatives taking their money, lack of transportation, road safety, heating costs, increasing taxes and being ignored.
Gaspar said an important component of an area’s TRIAD program is the SALT council, which is Seniors and Law Enforcement Together. Hatch asked for at least 12 to 15 seniors to sign up to be a part of this small group committed to advising TRIAD. Members of SALT will conduct home surveys, crime prevention education, recruit volunteers and inform TRIAD of the community’s needs, Hatch said.
After the meeting Glenda Deschaine, 88, wondered if TRIAD could help her situation.
“Where I am on MaineCare, it is impossible to get into an assisted living facility. They only accept one MaineCare resident once in awhile,” Deschaine said.
Louise Thurston, 84, stopped to talk with Hatch before she left the luncheon.
“I lost my husband and never learned how to drive, so I’m stuck at home. I’ll walk to get the few groceries I can carry. I even walked here today,” Thurston said.
“This is a way to identify concerns. The SALT council can help to establish volunteers. Maybe people who have vehicles,” Hatch said.
TRIAD members will meet July 11 to review the responses from the luncheon and set up the SALT council. For more information, please contact Susan Germano of Home Instead 605-4374, Stacey Farrington of Maine Medical Center 839-7354 or Officer Ted Hatch 839-5581, ext. 279.
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