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Articles and Success Stories
The following article appeared in the Oxford Eagle, Oxford Mississippi. This article relates to the purchase of a CARE (Call Reassurance) phone system from Database Systems Corp. to replace its outdated RUOK® phone system from Northland.
Grant Allows CARE Program To Continue, Expand
Posted: 2006, The Oxford Eagle, Jonathan Scott
Checking up on the homebound is going high tech in Oxford.
The CARE system — recently purchased new computer software that gives the county the addition capabilities for a public safety program that has been around for decades. CARE provides a means to contact the elderly or disabled with limited mobility on a daily basis to make sure they are OK. If no one answers the phone, someone will go to the residence to check on the individual.
This free service provided by Lafayette County TRIAD recently received a $6,000 grant from the Greater Oxford Lafayette Community Foundation to purchase new software that allows the CARE program to generate a report that gives the status of each call made daily. The software provides a system in which the county’s 911 dispatcher will be informed if a homebound person is not responding to the call.
The daily telephone contact program that reaches out to the elderly and disabled who live alone has been a vital community service since 1997. However, the technology operating the automated CARE stopped working in January. Since then, RSVP volunteers and 911 dispatchers had made these daily phone calls the old fashioned way — by personally phoning every CARE participant.
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.
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Without the financial support provided by this grant, the program may have been discontinued, said Arledia Bennett, director of Lafayette County RSVP.
“RSVP and the TRIAD volunteers are so thankful for the $6,000 grant we received from the GOLCF to purchase the new computer and software in order for the CARE program to continue,” Bennett said.
“Our other system had quit in January and this new system will allow us to expand the program and reach more individuals who can benefit from this service,” she said.
While the RSVP volunteers will miss making this personal contact every day with the homebound, Bennett said the new system allows the county to expand the program to serve more people.
“We are really going to miss talking to these people each morning as they are so sweet and appreciative of our time each day to call them,” she said.
But, if this new software saves just one person’s life or alerts county emergency response people to a problem, it is well worth the cost of the computer and software, Bennett said.
TRIAD is a group of 25 senior RSVP volunteers and representatives of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Oxford Police Department. TRIAD assesses the needs and concerns of older citizens in the community.
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.
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