Older residents
Safe & Secure Program
The Safe & Secure program is designed to enable older residents* to safely live independently. Twice daily communications with NCSO staff promotes a sense of community, welfare, and security.
Participation in the program is free.
Learn more in the Safe & Secure Program brochure (PDF).
*While typical participants are older, any resident of Northumberland County is eligible to apply to the program.
Protecting against elder abuse
Many older people are vulnerable to be abused. They can be physically abused where there’s a use of force against them that may result in bodily injury, physical pain or impairment. This includes inappropriate restraint. They can be sexually abused. This is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind. They can be emotionally or psychologically abused; this is the infliction of anguish, pain or distress. Then there’s financial abuse. This is the illegal or improper use of an older person's money, property, or assets. It includes forgery, fraud, unexplained transfers of a person’s assets and the unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions. Older people can also be neglected. This is the refusal or failure of a caregiver to fulfill his or her care-giving responsibilities.
If you suspect someone is a victim of elder abuse or you yourself have experienced it, make a confidential report by calling the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office: (804) 580-5221.
Learn more about elder abuse on the National Center on Elder Abuse website ↗.
TRIAD
Older residents are frequently the targets of fraud and other bad behaviors. TRIAD is a coalition of law enforcement, older residents, and community/social service organizations; together, partners work to empower individuals and groups with the information and connections they need to keep people safe. They do this by bringing all the relevant parties together.
NCSO proudly participates in the TRIAD of Lancaster-Northumberland Counties (learn more on the TRIAD Facebook page ↗). Currently, older Northumberland County residents benefit from TRIAD through special training and education of members of the sheriff’s office. The state TRIAD office keeps Sheriff Beauchamp informed of new scams and fraudulent activities targeting older people and in turn, NCSO staff share that information on NCSO’s Facebook page ↗, with individuals who may call with concerns, and in presentations to the community.
