NCJ Number
212576
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 74 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 26-32
Date Published
November 2005
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article presents the findings of the McKeesport Aging Program (MAP), a 3-year survey of elderly residents of McKeesport, PA, designed to obtain information on older adults' safety inside and outside their homes.
Abstract
The survey obtained this information from recorded contacts of McKeesport residents with fire and police agencies. The survey extended over the years 1995 to 1997 and focused on the characteristics of contacts between fire and police personnel and persons 60 years old and older. Approximately 25 percent of McKeesport's 24,000 residents were in this age group. Contacts were categorized as either home safety related (HS) or personal health/safety related (PH). The HS category included fire hazards (gas leaks and smoke alarms) and home security issues (burglaries and vandalism). The PH group covered mental health problems (dementia and suicide), safety within the community (wandering and public intoxication), and fatalities before safety personnel arrived. The majority of police contacts with elderly residents were HS incidents; most involved nonviolent property crimes. These findings mirrored national trends that show elderly individuals are disproportionately victimized by property crimes. Thirty-three percent of police contacts with elderly residents involved PS incidents, such as deaths, disputes with other people, intoxication or driving under the influence, mental health issues, and missing senior citizens. Most of the fire department contacts involved HS incidents, including food being left cooking on the stove. Police and fire departments together with community service agencies should cooperate in mounting public awareness campaigns that target elderly individuals with messages regarding crime, fire, and health issues most often encountered by the elderly. 2 tables and 32 notes