What Is S.A.F.E MN?
Along with population growth, there is a constant increase in age groups of all people. In Minnesota, there is has been a drastic increase in people who are senior citizens. This also means that Minnesota has seen a lot more instances of elder abuse. As a way to combat the negatives for elderly residents, S.A.F.E was established, but not everyone knows what S.A.F.E MN is all about.
What is S.A.F.E MN?
S.A.F.E is a program that started in the Anoka County Attorney’s office in 2012. It is the abbreviation for Minnesota Stop Abuse & Financial Exploitation Elders Initiative. Their goal is to reduce elder abuses cases through training, policy, and education. Those who participate in the program include people of the community and law enforcement partners and they have passed out informational videos or documentaries, and tool-kits for anyone who wants to prevent elder abuse.
Why S.A.F.E is Necessary
Elder abuse is something that is mentioned in passing, but very few people actually know the signs of what elder abuse can look like. It does not always come in the form of bruises, but can take on many forms including a change in their financial situation, suddenly giving away property or belongings, and a change in their personality. The only way to prevent elder abuse is to make sure that more people know about it and understand what to look for. In this regard, S.A.F.E has been successful, but even with knowledge, abuse still happens to a large number of our senior citizens. It is also still mostly unreported to the proper authorities.