|
|
Telecare Providers
Articles and Success Stories
Telephone Reassurance
DEDHAM, MA, JANUARY 9, 2006 – For nearly five years, Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti’s Telephone Reassurance program has been a valuable in-home service for senior citizens, especially those living alone.
“It’s an extra layer of security,” Sheriff Bellotti said. “It gives seniors added confidence and it’s a great way for family members to know their elder loved ones are being checked on daily.”
Each registered senior receives a personal, automated phone call every day at a specified time. If there’s no answer, a second call is placed five minutes later.
If there’s still no response, a deputy sheriff calls the designated contact – usually a family member, friend or neighbor. That person is asked to go to the senior’s home. If the contact person cannot be reached, the deputy calls local police who then respond to the senior’s residence.
“This program works,” Sheriff Bellotti said, “and it saves lives.”
CARE Phone Systems
IN 2005, Database Systems Corp. introduced an affordable and expandable autodialer that is the heart of our CARE call reassurance program.
This automatic calling system includes our CARE editor and administrator utilities that let you manage your telephone reassurance program efficiently.
These systems are delivered as turnkey solutions. However, our experienced staff can customize your telephone reassurance program and emergency broadcasting applications.
DSC also provides a digital phone system (PACER) when your call volume requires a larger system.
|
|
Since the program’s inception in April 2001, there have been 37 total “saves,” including two in November.
In the first case, a 95-year-old legally-blind Quincy woman confined to a wheelchair did not answer her daily call. Police were dispatched to the woman’s home and found her on the floor where she had been since midnight after falling out of her wheelchair trying to use the bathroom.
The woman was taken to Quincy Medical Center for X-rays. Her family, out of state at the time, was notified.
In the second case, a 78-year-old Weymouth woman answered her second call and stated she was not feeling well. The Sheriff’s deputy notified the police, who quickly arrived and took her to South Shore Medical Center for evaluation. The woman has no immediate family.
“These situations speak for themselves,” Sheriff Bellotti said. “What would have happened under different circumstances in which no one was checking in on these seniors? This program is important, and it works.”
Since starting the program, Sheriff Bellotti said, there have been more than 500 Norfolk County senior citizens who have taken advantage of the free service.
Currently, there are 250 seniors from 26 Norfolk County communities who are registered and receive individual calls every day.
Senior citizens can register through their local senior center or Council on Aging, or by calling the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office toll free at 1-866-900-7865 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Telephone Reassurance Information
Contact DSC to learn more about our telephone call reassurance services and phone systems.
Telephone Reassurance Articles
"Are You OK?"® and RUOK® are registered names of Bruce L Johnson (Individual). For a comparison with our CARE system, please visit our RUOK® vs CARE web page.
|
|
