TRIAD conference tackles crimes against the elderly
Written by Pamela Crabtree | | news@toledofreepress.com
Marcy Kaptur
The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio (AOoA) and the TRIAD Council of Northwest Ohio (www.nationaltriad.org) hosted a statewide conference and senior safety workshop Oct. 6 and 7 at the Pinnacle, 1772 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee. More than 110 senior citizens, law enforcement officials and representatives of senior service providers attended. The goal of the two-day event was to empower and educate the senior population.
“The Area Office on Aging and the TRIAD Council have sponsored the conference during October for the past 12 years,” said Sally Davies, director of Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol with the AOoA. “2008 marked the opportunity to combine the workshop and conference.”
Master of ceremonies on both days was Dave Carlson of WTOL 11.
Billie Johnson, president and CEO of the AOoA, Julia Bates, Lucas County prosecutor, and Lucas County Sheriff Jim Telb welcomed participants from “all over the state on Monday morning,” Davies said. Keynote speaker for the event was Ohio Sen. Mark Wagoner. On Oct. 7, state Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop attended the event’s luncheon in the Pinnacle’s Grand Ballroom, where Judge Jack R. Puffenberger served as the emcee.
In addition to educating the audience on crimes against the elderly, the workshop topics included information on scams, domestic violence, insurance and pets.
Bates took a personal interest in the conference because she has firsthand experience with the aging population. Both of her parents are 87 years old.
“I really know what is happening to our seniors and what we need to do to make things easier for them,” she said. “With an aging population, we need to be more user-friendly to our seniors, to their safety, security and health.”
Bates said many areas of interest to seniors were covered at the conference and she hopes “people realize how important our senior population is and that many times criminals pick on seniors because they are so vulnerable.”
The sponsors of the conference were Attorney General state of Ohio; Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association; Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio; Julia Bates, Lucas County Prosecutor; and the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, call (419) 382-7060, Ext. 2219.
