What can be done to help older people manage and reduce their fear?

• More visible street policing: Far and away this is the one thing that older people say would make the biggest difference to their peace of mind. Community Support Officers, Neighbourhood wardens or other members of the extended police family should make a point of engaging in social contact with older people. The extended police family should also regularly patrol areas where older people represent a high proportion of residents.
  
• More consultation: The Age Concern survey showed that older people are very interested in the topic of crime, and would like to be consulted more often and more widely on crime and crime prevention issues in their areas. This includes having more say on what the local environmental priorities should be, e.g. fixing broken paving or installing better lighting. Efforts should be made by CDRPs to engage in effective consultation with all older people in the community, including those who are isolated or marginalised e.g. disabled older people or BME older people.
  
• More information: CDRPs need to keep older people better informed about crime prevention schemes in their area, and also encourage them to get involved with organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch and Crimestoppers. As anti-social behaviour is a big issue for them, tell them what the options are in relation to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

  In order to reach as many older people as possible, CDRPs should target places/facilities which are used by older people, such as day centres, doctors’ surgeries, libraries as well as working with local branches of organisations such as Age Concern and Help the Aged. Links should also be made with local social services and housing organisations to get information to older isolated clients which will help to provide older people with more information and advice on things like personal safety measures and home security schemes.

  It’s also an idea to try and work more closely with the media to encourage them to adopt a more balanced approach to their reporting. 

• More communal support: As the Fear of Crime toolkit discusses in some detail, individuals who feel part of a strong community are much less likely to feel vulnerable. Work with older people’s organisations and across health and social services to try and identify isolated older people, and offer them a befriending service.

  Encourage more communication and contact between older people and young people, for example by developing an inter-generation programme. Bringing older and younger people together can help both groups to see things from a different perspective and replace mutual mistrust and antipathy with trust and understanding.

For further information about the Age Concern Survey contact Sue Ray, who is an Age Concern Research and Policy Officer on 020 8765 7264.