The Center for the Study of Crime through a grant of the TIMA Charitable Foundation and the Points of Support Program, has created the NIREAS pilot program for the prevention, identification, and tackling of elder abuse through a multi-faceted community intervention program. The program is structured around three distinct axes. The first axis entails educational meetings at Open Protection Centers for the Elderly in the Municipality of Halandri informing seniors about the types of abuse, risk recognition and the development of self-protection skills. Using experiential and practical methods, the program will highlight how one recognizes and prevents incidents of abuse or exploitation. It will also teach seniors how to empower themselves by knowing their rights and what agencies and organizations they can turn to for support.
The second axis will comprise of educational workshops for social care employees in the Municipality of Halandri focusing on the early detection and effective management of abuse cases by professionals. The third axis will be informational awareness-raising events organized to highlight the phenomenon of elder abuse, its consequences, and the importance of community protection. A relevant training manual will also be developed. The ultimate goal of the program is to prevent abuse and strengthen the autonomy and safety of older adults through awareness and education.
