ACCOA Telephone Reassurance Program

Overview

If you live anywhere in Alcona County, apply for this free service by contacting the Alcona County Commission on Aging at 989-334-3466

Mission

• Promote the security of “at-risk” senior citizens
• Reduce isolation, victimization, and health concerns
• Provide daily telephone reassurance calls

Program Services

• A brief, daily telephone call to an elderly or disabled person
• The call is placed at a pre-arranged time each day
• Calls made five days a week
• Verify well-being, share crime prevention tips, and other useful information
• Designed for individuals who live alone or feel isolated
• Calls made by the ACCOA Information & Assitance staff
• Service is offered at no cost
• If the subscriber does not answer the phone, a procedure of safety checks is followed before the emergency response system (911) is activated

Participant Information

• Names for potential participants come from individuals, families or organizations who have contact with older or disabled persons
• Contact person is needed in case the volunteer can’t reach the participant
• All participants are interviewed and agree to the program guidelines

Background

Alcona County has long recognized the need for daily telephone calls to isolated and vulnerable seniors. Any social service agency, including police, sheriff, and fire departments confirm that seniors are most likely to be victimized, have health problems, and are least likely to know about services available to them.

Many seniors have multiple health problems that cause them to become homebound. Again, these seniors are most likely to be in the category of frail, isolated, and vulnerable. A major loss occurs when families move to other areas of the country or are just too busy to be involved adequately. Many seniors have outlived family and friends.

One of the most effective means of reducing isolation, victimization, and health concerns is daily contact through a telephone reassurance call. This has been a successful service in many areas of the country as well as here in Alcona County.

Benefits to the Senior

• Isolated seniors and disabled people benefit from personally talking one-on-one to another individual.
• An emergency response system is available in a crisis. If a subscriber does not answer the phone at the designated time, emergency procedures are followed that include: calls to neighbors or emergency contact persons on file to check on the house before the emergency response system is activated.
• ACCOA focuses on the well-being of the subscriber. 
• Crime prevention information can be mailed to each applicant.

Benefits to the Community

• Affirm that older people are valued by the community and should have care available.
• Credibility through law-enforcement support.
• Develop a partnership between law enforcement and social service agencies for more efficient problem solving with safety issues for vulnerable populations.
• Expand information and assistance resources to social service agencies.

To Apply

This service is free. If you live anywhere in Alcona County apply for this service by contacting the Alcona County Commission on Aging at 989-334-3466.