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Seniors' check-in program
available in Bridgewater
(Original text may be viewed
here.)
13 October 1999
Lisa Brown
Lighthouse staff
BRIDGEWATER - It's a program aimed at giving seniors a little extra
peace of mind every day and help should they need it.
The seniors' check-in program recently expanded into the Town of
Bridgewater. It began in this county a few years ago, initiated by
the Lunenburg - Mahone Bay Police Service, then expanded into the
areas covered by Lunenburg and Bridgewater RCMP detachments and as
far east as Chester.
The free service is provided through Whynacht Security and Survival,
located in Lunenburg. The police make people aware of the program
and assist seniors with registration.
"It's been very successful. It has gradually made its way through
the county and now we're adding it to the Bridgewater town police
repertoire of crime prevention programs," says Cst. John Collyer,
the town force's community relations officer.
The check-in program works through an automated phone system. The
funding for that was originally provided by the Mahone Bay and Area
Lions Club."An officer helps you with the registration form.
Basically, you put your preferred check-in time and the computer
dials you up at that time," Cst. Collyer explains.
If the phone is answered, the computer considers the senior to be
fine. It plays a pre-recorded message to tell the senior it's the
system that is calling.
To alter getting the phone call if you don't plan to be home, you
simply dial a number and notify the service. Otherwise, if the
computer calls and doesn't get an answer or gets a busy tone, it
alerts a dispatcher. The dispatcher then tries to reach the senior
again. If there is still no contact, the dispatcher calls a
pre-arranged contact person - a neighbour, relative or friend - and
asks that that person check on the senior.
But not everyone has someone living nearby to call. That's the
greatest benefit of the check-in system. If no contact people are
available, a police officer is dispatched to check on the home.
"If you fall down and break your hip in the house, you're not going
to be lying there in pain for any great length of time," Cst.
Collyer says. "We've had some seniors where they've been days
trapped in their home unable to get to a phone.
"These days, even here in town, you've got people who don't know
their neighbours. Unfortunately, we deal with an awful lot of
seniors who don't have relatives living close by. They're basically
on their own. They're kind of scared. There's nobody around checking
on them," Cst. Collyer says.
Even if they do have someone checking on them once a day, the
check-in program could be at a different time.
"There you have two checks a day, which is even better," the
constable says.
Bridgewater police will be talking with different seniors groups
around town and also plan meetings through the Bridgewater
Inter-church Council. Seniors are also welcome to drop by or
telephone the police station to arrange to register. The
department's telephone number is 543-2464.
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