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"Are You Okay?"
Councils on Aging program keeps in touch with elders
By Jeanne B. Siegel, Elder Services Planner
A number of Berkshire Councils on Aging (COAs) have a special service, "Are You Okay?" which performs a daily check on residents who live alone (see list below). In some programs, an elder who is registered in the program receives a daily telephone call from a volunteer to see if all is well. In other programs, the elder must call in.
The idea for the program came about following numerous phone calls to the Lee Police Department. Out-of-town relatives asked the police to check on a family member that they had not heard from in a few days, and were unable to reach by telephone. Without daily contact, an elder living alone could become sick or injured without anyone knowing until it is too late.
In Lee, the Police Department and the Lee Communications Center work together. Elders are asked to phone the Communications Center each morning, or advise them in advance that they will be away. If the registered elder does not call, someone will attempt to contact a person on the emergency contact list provided by the elder. If still unable to determine the elder's well being, a police officer will be dispatched to the residence to make a physical check on their well being.
In Williamstown, elders are asked to call into the senior center daily between 8:30 and 9:30. If they do not call, a volunteer phones them. If the elder does not respond, the Williamstown Police Department is notified and sends out a cruiser. Four individuals who had fallen and could not get up were rescued by this safety check.
"It's a program that has come in handy, and I recommend it to everyone. We currently have room for those who wish to be enrolled," stated Brian O'Grady, Williamstown Council on Aging Director.
In Pittsfield, the elders in the program are called every morning by either office staff or volunteers. Council on Aging Director Jean Beauchemin says, “It is a wonderful, enjoyable service as the elders and the callers have become like an extended family. These folks are frail and do not get out much. They are so happy to get the call; they recognize the voice of the caller. It's very rewarding for all of us involved."
If you would like to be part of an "Are You Okay?" program, contact your local COA directly. For more information, call Jeanne Siegel at Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.