Friday, February 15, 2008

WPD Senior Citizen Call-in Program

Do you know a senior citizen who lives alone in Woodstock? If so, you might want to inform him or her of a program provided by the Woodstock Police Department called the Senior Citizen Call-in Program.

An “eligible” (not defined) senior (not defined) citizen who lives alone in Woodstock can register with the P.D. and know that aid will come, if he or she falls and cannot get to a phone. It might be a while, but within a day (which is better than not at all).

When the application (available at the P.D. or online at www.woodstockil.gov) is accepted, the senior calls a designated number every day between 6:00-10:00AM to “check in.” If he doesn’t call, the police dispatcher will call the resident. If there is no answer, an officer will take the resident’s key (on file with the PD) and go to the resident’s home to check on the welfare of the resident.

The City’s website does not define “eligible” or “senior”, and I have suggested both definitions be added to the webpage. Is the program open to a disabled resident who lives alone but is not a senior?

Where is the webpage? Go to the City’s website, then click on Departments, then Police, then Programs.

Telling a senior friend, acquaintance or neighbor about this could save his life. Don’t just think about it. Tell him now. And help him register.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an expensive and time-costly program to be promoted by someone who thinks that almost all government expenses are wasteful.

Anonymous said...

hey, i have a crusade to punch you right in the face of that bald head of yours. i dont think that will work through the email though.

Gus said...

Per the P.D., to be eligible to participate in the program:
1. A person must be sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
2. A person must live alone in a single-family residence (which includes townhomes, apartments and condominiums) which is not part of any senior citizen facility, senior citizen assistance organization or any other organized assisted living program or situation.
3. A person who has no immediate family residing within McHenry County, Illinois.