The Naperville Police Department wants to help checking up on the many seniors and disabled residents who live alone. The department is offering a new service, the Reverse 911 Guardian Program, to make phone calls to people who do not have regular contact with family members, neighbors or friends.
“This is our way to check on them, to make sure they’re OK on a day-to-day basis,” said Marita Manning, crime prevention specialist and a member of the city’s Elderly Services Team.
The program uses the Police Department’s 911 telecommunications computer. Residents who apply for the service can request calls on a daily basis or less frequently. For example, seniors who receive home-delivered meals during the week may need calls only on Saturdays and Sundays.
Upon receiving the computerized phone call, the resident enters a response code using the phone keypad. If the code is not received, a 911 telecommunications staff member is alerted. They will follow up with a call to a local emergency contact, such as a neighbor.
“We’ll ask the neighbor if they know what’s going on, if the person is out of the home for some reason,” Manning said.
If the follow-up call cannot determine why there was no response, a police officer is dispatched to the home. The goal is to dispatch an officer within 10 minutes of the failed call, Manning said.
Manning will meet with interested residents to explain the follow-up procedures used by the police. Residents will need to alert the department when they leave town, she said. Users of the service also will be asked to supply information about their medical history and the name of their doctor.
To be considered for the program, Naperville residents must complete an application and meet qualifications. They must be older than 60 and live alone, or older than 60 and live with a disabled person and require daily contact.
The Naperville Police Department also offers cell phones for seniors, who can use them to place 911 calls.
The program began about a year ago with the distribution of 400 used cell phones.
“We’ve had three successful uses of the phones this year,” Manning said. “Two were involved in car accidents, and one was stranded alone in a parking lot late at night.”
People who have cell phones to donate can drop them off at the Police Department, 1350 Aurora Ave. All phones and batteries must be in working order, with adapters and chargers bagged together.
For information about registering for the Reverse 911 Guardian Program or to obtain a cell phone, contact Manning at 630-420-6725.
