Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office & Fallon Ambulance Service, Dedham, MA
In an effort to bring peace of mind to the elderly and families in their community, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Department and the Fallon Ambulance Service offer a daily call service that checks in with the elderly or home bound citizens.
The program, called “Are You OK?”, provides safety and security for elderly people living alone. Each person who signs up is called every single day of the year via an automated call system. If the person does not answer the phone, the call is made again by an officer. If there is still no answer or the person says they need assistance, the officer will ensure someone is sent to help.
In 2001, Sheriff Michael Bellotti had the system brought online, and it is free for all participants. In 2009, Fallon Ambulance Service partnered with the Sheriff’s Office to administer the program.
“Since Sheriff Bellotti initiated “Are You Okay?” in 2001, more than 1,600 people have enrolled and approximately 104 seniors have either been rescued or assisted with medical emergencies by first responders through the program,” Mary MacDonald, Editor with the Medfield Patch reported.
The “Are You OK?” program helps communities keep their citizens safe. With 1,700 communities running this program, families and elderly enrollees can rest easier knowing there is an added layer of security for them.
Learn more about the “Are You OK?” program
Below are several videos created for the “Are You OK?” program in Norfolk County, MA. The first describes how the program and computer system works. The second are testimonials about the service.
VIDEO: About The Service
VIDEO: Testimonials
About “Are You OK?” Software
The computer program at the core of the “Are You OK?” service was created by Bruce L Johnson in 1987. Since then, he has been supporting the software and community clients through his company, Northland Innovation Corporation. Learn more about this valuable service at http://www.ruok.com/.
