Many seniors live independently away from family.
Circumstances can occur that seniors do not live nearby their family and they
can lose contact with friends. Many seniors continue to want to live
independently instead of in assisted living or similar arrangements.
Family members with a parent or aunt or uncle who live
independently may not be able to check in on their family member on a regular
basis. Some elderly may feel isolated and lonely and as a result, can easily
become victimized by scammers or other criminals who would exploit them. And,
some elderly begin to hoard items in fear of running out of what they think are
necessities. This can lead to unsanitary conditions at home.
Sheriff’s Office Volunteers will check on those who sign up
for this program on a regular basis either by phone or in person. Participation
is free with the only requirement being that participants be able to answer the
phone and provide at least one emergency contact.
For more about YANA and how people can sign up for it go to http://snohomishcountywa.gov/2993/You-Are-Not-Alone.
Note: YANA will be in addition to another service that the
Sheriff’s Office Volunteers perform. For several years the Volunteers and the
Sheriff’s Office’s Search and Rescue Volunteers have operated “Project Care
Track.” Under Project Care Track, families with a relative who might be prone
to wandering away from home (this can include people with Alzheimer’s disease,
dementia, Down Syndrome, Autism, Prader-Willi or traumatic brain injury) allow
the Volunteers to put a transmitter their family member’s wrist. If the family
member wanders away, the Search and Rescue Volunteers will come to the area with
a receiver. Usually recovery of the missing family member is very fast. This
avoids the difficulty in finding a missing family member with dementia without
the transmitter which often results in tragedy.
If you would like to learn more about Project Care Track, go
to http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/313/Project-Care-Track/
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