Seniors Taking a Stand for Safety at Tod's Crossing
With all the news about crime and personal safety in the city of Warren it is refreshing to see a group come together with a plan to make a difference. Tod's Crossing, a National Church Residences, located on the Southwest side of Warren, home to ov
Online, December 11, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Tod's Crossing Senior Safety School's motto, S.T.E.P. UP! Safety Takes Every Person, personifies the overall theme of the class series that students graduated from this past Friday.
Honoring the dedication to complete all 24 class hours, the graduation ceremony included guests from the Columbus Ohio home office of National Church Residences. Mr. Tom Slemmer, President, Mr. Mark Ricketts, Vice President, Mr. Gregory Brandwene, Regional Vice President, and Ms. Tricia Braniff, Regional Leader, were all present to award the graduates with their certificates.
The Tod's Crossing Senior Safety School curriculum is designed to empower seniors and adult caregivers with the skills, tools, and knowledge necessary in today's world for, not only personal safety in the home, but beyond the home.
The students learned how to protect themselves from identity theft, financial fraud schemes, from elder abuse. They learned how to safely report a crime and what organizations were there for them they should fall victim to a crime. They learned about fall prevention, about how to prevent a fire in the home, how to prepare for natural disasters. They learned how to safeguard themselves when it comes to medication management and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes. They had a class on safe driving techniques for seniors and they each earned their C.P.R. Card.
The Senior Safety School received funding for the 2011 and 2012 sessions with a grant from the Carol Mount Peterson Resident Development Fund facilitated by the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing. The money made it possible to offer the curriculum to both residents of Tods and seniors residing in the city of Warren free of charge.
Barbara Mascio, property manager and founder of the school said, "In addition to this series, we offer educational opportunities and activities each month and these are always open to the seniors in our area even if they don't yet live here. Our calendar is published on our web site."
The graduation ceremony began with an opening prayer from Pastor Truss of New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church and an original poem by Elder Barbara Murray of Third Christian Church. The assistant manager of Tod's, Ms. Beverly Hall, set the mood with a beautiful rendition of 'Safe in His Arms'. Mayor Douglas Franklin, City Council President Bob Dean, and City Developer, Michael Keyes were all present with their support for what this community of seniors accomplished through this training and for what they do each day to keep this little piece of the southwest side of Warren a safe haven for our elder population.
Mascio thanked each of the instructors that donated their time to teach a 2 hour class and stated, "Without the support of local agencies and businesses our school would not have had such a resounding success."
Instructors for the school included; Rhonda Bennett, president of the SW Neighborhood Association, Carol Mirkin, RN, Comfort Keepers Homecare Services, Lisa Solley, Area Agency on Aging, David Leszunov, Pharmacist with Champion Medicine Group, Manilath James, Consumer Educator with the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection, Keri Hodge, Trumbull County Senior Court, Bridget Lackey, Community Health Educator with Humility of Mary Health Partners, Captain Curtiss King of the Warren City Fire Department, and Wendy and Jeff Thomas, C.P.R. instructors through Thomas Trainers.
"You can't ask someone to take responsibility for something until they've had the opportunity to acquire the skills, tools, and knowledge needed to make that change. And that's what this school provides," states Mascio.
Seniors and their adult family caregivers are encouraged to call Tod's now to reserve a spot in the upcoming 2013 class by phoning 330-399-2224
Businesses and health care agencies are also encouraged to call as there are ample opportunities for sponsorship.