Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner visited Broomgrove Nursing Home in Sheffield on Thursday, 7 October to meet and talk to the residents.

Donna Pierepoint, Registered Manager at the home introduced the Commissioner to the residents’ at their regular monthly meeting.

The Commissioner spoke to them about his work as Police and Crime Commissioner but also about his previous working life and how he thought that had been useful experience. Among the residents was Rod Knowles who had been head of Personnel at Sheffield City Council in the 1980s when Alan Billings was Deputy Leader and Lord David Blunkett was the Leader.

Dr Billings also spoke to the residents about the growing elderly population and the need to be alert to possible scams, especially ones made over the telephone. Fraudsters often target elderly or vulnerable people over the telephone pretending to be police officers, council officers or from another trusted agency.

He explained to them the importance of not disclosing their pin number, password or any personal details.  Police Officers and staff from other agencies would never ask for this information – not even the bank.

Dr Alan Billings said: “We are an ageing population and while it is good that we are living longer lives, older age can bring with it neuro-degenerative illnesses, such as forms of dementia that make people very vulnerable.

“It is hard to put the phone down or to close the front door to unwanted callers, but there are times when we have to do it.”

Broomgrove nursing home is a close community of around 40 nursed residents, 3 residential tenants and over 80 staff. For over 50 years they have provided high-quality long-term, medium-term, respite and convalescent care for people of all ages who have physical illnesses or disabilities.

They are unique as the only charity within Sheffield’s nursing home sector and invest any profit they make to further improve our services to residents and their families.