Elder Affairs Officer Steve Valerio continues to support and assist the senior community by addressing questions and concerns and connecting them with essential resources. Officer Valerio maintains a strong working relationship with the Health Department, Fire Department, Council on Aging, Housing Authority, Old Colony Elder Services, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department to ensure seniors have access to the best services available. Officer Valerio contributes to several local newsletters, reaching out to seniors with safety tips and updates on common scams targeting them.
Officer Valerio attended a resource fair with the Council on Aging to provide seniors with additional resources and services. He also continued his outreach efforts, collaborating with the Fire Department and Veteran’s Agent to host Senior Outreach Meetings at locations such as Riverview Apartments, Nemasket Apartments, Council on Aging, Edgeway Mobile Home Park, Hill Crest Mobile Home Park, and Oak Point. These meetings provided seniors with valuable information about services like Project Life Saver, the Safety Assurance Program and Smart911.
Officer Valerio also held several events at the Middleborough Police Department where he distributed senior identification cards and discussed some scams targeting seniors. Officer Valerio regularly advises seniors to remain vigilant about scams, which may come in the form of fraudulent phone calls, emails, or internet schemes. He urges them never to share sensitive information like Social Security Numbers, bank details, gift card payments or any form of cryptocurrency (bitcoin) payments with strangers. If seniors suspect they have fallen victim to a scam, they are encouraged to contact the Middleborough Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
For added safety, Officer Valerio reminds seniors of the medication drop-off box available 24/7 in the police department lobby, where they can dispose of unwanted or expired medications. We are able to accept Prescriptions (medications, ointments and patches), over the counter medications, vitamins, samples and medications for pets. We CAN NOT accept hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, medication from business or clinics, thermometers or needles (sharps). Officer Valerio also offers to host outreach events for any senior group or organization in need of resources or information.