D.E.C.I.D.E. Program

Developing Elders Choices In Defense Education (D.E.C.I.D.E)

The Senior population is the fastest growing segment of our society. We recognize the increasing need to educate seniors in crime prevention techniques to help them reduce the chances of becoming the victim of a crime. The D.E.C.I.D.E. Program was designed to meet this need. The D.E.C.I.D.E. program is a comprehensive  program designed by Cambridge Massachusetts Police Officer Susan Kale and Harvard University Police Officer Maureen Morrison, both of whom specialize in senior safety.

Program Goal

The goal of this program is to teach seniors risk-reduction strategies using crime prevention techniques to enhance their personal safety both at home and in public. This course is intended to reduce the chances of becoming a victim, but we can not guarantee that it will eliminate those chances altogether. By attending this class you will be taking the first step towards empowering yourself to be able to make educated decisions in your response to criminal or unsafe situations.

Positive Outcomes

By becoming more aware of their surroundings and by offering seniors choices about how to respond to different situations, we are giving them options to take control. Learning to recognize and react to uncomfortable or unsafe situations is very difficult. Through education and practice, we hope this course will help seniors become better prepared.

Program Components

Each segment of this 12-hour course includes a lecture component, a video, and a role-playing segment. There is something that everyone can be involved in regardless of his or her physical limitations.

Commitment to the Senior Community

We have a commitment to ensure that our seniors are well protected and safe. This course will hopefully give seniors a new outlook on different ways to stay safe. We hope you enjoy this program as much as we do.

The D.E.C.I.D.E. program is presented by Officer Patricia Grady, who may be contacted at 617-972-6552.