Triads can improve the odds that seniors will hang up the phone on unscrupulous telemarketers, keep the door closed to phony vendors or throw away fraudulent direct mail offers. One Triad sponsors programs to make seniors aware of businesses which target senior citizens with misleading or fraudulent sales pitches. Another shows seniors how to identify and deal with telemarketing fraud. Through Triad, senior citizens become partners with law enforcement to fight crime. S.A.L.T. councils and their accompanying Triads are dedicated to educating senior citizens about personal safety and crime prevention.
Membership is open to anyone who is concerned about senior issues.
Often, a local Triad includes representatives from the sheriff's office, several police departments and organizations for seniors. Monthly meetings may feature speakers on topics ranging from reverse mortgages, Crime Solvers, safe shopping tips and financial scams. Some Triads also have a telephone reassurance program in which seniors are matched with specific law enforcement officials in their community. The seniors have the opportunity to call on law enforcement for help, and in turn, local law enforcement officials can call seniors to check on them from time to time. This May, Texas law enforcement officials and AARP representatives joined me in signing a statewide Triad agreement which recognizes and re-establishes the 100 Triads currently operating statewide.