Free seniors safety register

By Bridget Brady
CRANBOURNE senior citizens are encouraged to join a free register to help keep them safe and sound.
Seniors can join the Cranbourne Police Senior Citizen’s Register, which is a Victoria Police initiative.
Coordinator of the register Greta Radnetter said one of the aims of the initiative was to check-up on seniors who may be isolated, do not family or live alone to ensure they were safe.
“The main aim is to make senior citizens feel as though they belong to the community,” Mrs Radnetter said.
She said volunteers would make regular phone calls to seniors who were on the register and check the status of their welfare and eventually organise group outings and activities for those who have joined.
“Too often they (seniors) have been put in the too hard basket. They have an enormous amount to contribute and we just don’t take the time to listen.
“It should be a lot of fun.”
Volunteers would also visit seniors at their houses to ensure their homes were secure, Mrs Radnetter said.
The first Cranbourne senior to sign up, Don Davis, said the register was a great program for all seniors.
“It is especially important for those who have lost a partner,” Mr Davis said.
He said when someone’s partner and carer is no more, some jobs around the house do not get done anymore.
Mr Davis, a life member of the Cranbourne RSL, said the register would benefit many members of the RSL and other groups that have members of an older age bracket.
“I’m all for it. It will be good for them (seniors) to get back talking to people.”
Mrs Radnetter said she was looking for sponsorship and support to purchase a car for the register.
She said the seniors register would complement the cognitive impairment program at the Cranbourne Police Station.
Leading Senior Constable Peter Pryce-Lewis said people who have been added to the cognitive impairment register may have an intellectual disability, autism, dementia or other conditions.
People who register someone are expected to submit a photo of the person, details about the person and next of kin contact details so that police can find out who they are if they are found lost and confused.
“It’s a brilliant system,” Leading Sen Const Pryce-Lewis said.
“To a large degree this works in perfectly with the seniors register because a large percentage of people joining the seniors register should be on this one too.” Mrs Radnetter said.
The Cranbourne Community Plan at the City of Casey council and the Rotary Club of Cranbourne has donated money to the seniors register that enabled them to purchase a computer. Snap Printing in Hallam is doing printing for the register.
To join the seniors register or to offer sponsorship or support call 5991 0625 or Sergeant Ian Lane at the Cranbourne Police Station on 5991 0600.