Mountain Home, AR. – The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is in the process of implementing a new automated telephone wellness check service system for senior and disabled individuals, giving more resources for those vulnerable to maintain a connection to the community at large. The official announcement is included below.
This system, called “CONFIRM OK”, was made possible through funding provided by the Baxter County Sheriff’s Foundation’s Board of Directors after hearing a presentation on the system from Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Brian Davis earlier this month. Lieutenant Davis will be serving as the manager and coordinator of this program.
The system works by placing an automated telephone call one or more times per day to the participant at the phone number on file. If the participant is able to answer, he or she will hear a recorded message from the Sheriff’s Office through the CONFIRM OK system that will provide the participant with instructions on how to respond on the phone keypad. The participant can report that he or she is OK and does not need assistance by simply pressing two keys on the phone.
If the participant does not answer, a deputy will be dispatched to the residence to personally check on the welfare of the participant, and emergency medical services will be dispatched if needed.
Many times we find senior citizens who have fallen and are unable to call for help. They are forced to lie on the floor for hours or days before being found to receive medical attention. Unfortunately, sometimes we find those who have passed and have not been found for long periods of time. We feel this is unacceptable and we strongly believe this automated service can be of great benefit to many of our senior citizens who live alone.
An application to participate in the CONFIRM OK system can be made in person at the Sheriff’s Administration Offices during normal business office hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (holidays excepted). If the applicant is unable to come to the Sheriff’s Office, then a deputy can be dispatched to the residence to assist the applicant with filling out the documents. While family members, friends, or neighbors may suggest this program to an eligible person, applications from third-parties on behalf of a senior or disabled person residing alone cannot be accepted because the participant will need to sign documents in person and agree to the terms of the program.
Lieutenant Davis proposed the idea for this program to help ensure that people who live alone and lack daily or frequent contact with family or friends are regularly checked on to make sure they are well. Lt. Davis was familiar with a similar program that was used in Forest City and St. Francis County where he was previously employed. Lt. Davis’s research led to the CONFIRM OK system that is being used in multiple agencies in several states with great success.
Anyone interested in applying for this service or learning more about the program may contact Lieutenant Brian Davis at (870) 425-7000 or in person at the Sheriff’s Office during normal office hours.
Sheriff John Montgomery
