Thursday, September 16, 1999
Village to check on its seniors
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WOODLAWN — Elderly folks who'd like someone to check on them can soon get a daily phone call from the village asking, “Are you OK?”
Woodlawn's police, fire and recreation departments have teamed to provide a new, computerized service that calls senior citizens to make sure they don't need emergency help.
The $3,500 worth of software and equipment needed for the program came from the federally funded Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute.
If successful in Woodlawn, the “Are You OK?” service could be expanded to include latch-key kids and people with physical disabilities.
Here's how it works: Seniors fill out a form designating what time of day they'd like to receive a call. The computer then dials them up daily with a pre-recorded message.
If a person doesn't answer after a couple of calls, police either contact a neighbor or visit the resident themselves.
“Instead of sitting back and and waiting for somebody to call and say, "I've been trying to contact Grandma for two days and she's not answering,' this is a proactive way for relatives to sign up people like that, then police and fire can take the initiative,” said Woodlawn Officer Al Ball, an instructor at the Community Policing Institute who helped get “Are You OK?” for the village.
The Butler County Sheriff's
Department has had the program two years.
“Very effective and very helpful,” is the assessment of Cleo Ketay, an assistant with the sheriff's Triad program, which supports seniors.
When the program started, 30 people subscribed, Ms. Ketay said. Today, the number is 104, and the program is credited with helping a woman who fell in her home and broke her hip.
“Are You OK?” is gaining interest. The Highland County Sheriff's Department received “Are You OK?” through the Community Policing Institute in June and now has about 15 people signed up, said Deputy Scott Miller.
There have been no distress calls so far.
Most recently, the Warren County Sheriff's Department expressed interest, said Greg Fiebig, training coordinator for the Community Policing Institute.
Woodlawn's “Are You OK?” program will be housed at the village fire station and should be working next month, Mr. Ball said.
Those interested in subscribing should call the village police at 771-8480 or fire department at 771-0233.
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Village to check on its seniors
