4/1/2007 - A VERY SPECIAL PROGRAM
A VERY SPECIAL PROGRAM
Never Alone
by Brad L. Smith
Alone. In the course of our lives, the two times we dread being alone most are when we are very young...and very old. Our parents watch out for us during the first phase, but who is there for us in the endonce family, friends, and even close neighbors may be gone?
Would you believe the Redlands Police Department (RPD)? One of the programs consolidated under our RPD in 1997 was Senior Services...and very successfully, too. In 2000, this community policing model gained national recognition when Redlands received the Innovations in American Government award and the designation as one of the 25 most innovative and effective government programs in the nation! The prestigious $20,000 award is sponsored by the Ford Foundation, Harvards Kennedy School of Government, and the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Excellence in American Government.
Under RPD Chief of Police Jim Bueermann, Senior Services has not only become nationally recognized but locally personal. He said, Senior Services has given the department an opportunity to serve the elders of our community in ways that not only enrich their lives, but also help members of the RPD find a higher purpose in their public service.
The first phase of the program, Never Alone, currently involves 15 volunteers serving some 25 seniors. The community volunteers call senior shut-ins every day to check on them. If they cannot contact them over the phone, an officer drops by personally.
Redlands native, Isabelle Hosking, age 84, tells what this aspect of the Never Alone program does for her, It gives me the confidence that someone is concerned about me and that they know what is going on. Gayla Elwell calls me mornings and evenings to see if Im OK. At first, I didnt think I needed it, than I became ill. I was so glad there was someone calling me because I dont have any family here. Its been a real blessing to me.
And the blessing goes two ways. Annette Gambrel has volunteered in the program for more than a year. Every day she calls two ladies, in their late 70s to early 80s, to check up on them. Ive always been interested in helping the elderly. When I was 16, I started working at a convalescent hospital. Im 46 now. Its very rewarding, just to do that little phone call and know that theyre OK. And they both really appreciate the program.
The second phase of Never Alone was the creation of low-cost bus services for seniors who can no longer drive themselves and have no other means of transportation. From Monday through Friday, more than 5,000 trips annually, these buses take our seniors to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, or to the two senior centers for meals and all-important social interaction.
Chief Bueermann described the third and newest addition to the Never Alone initiative. Never Alone: Safely Back Home is a technological approach to helping the families of people with Alzheimers disease or children with special needs who are prone to wandering away.
Never Alone: Safely Back Home utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to both restore peace of mind to the families of such individuals and to relieve the drain on valuable police resources.
With this latest addition to our array of services to Redlands, said Chief Bueermann, we hope to let the families of adults and children who wander know that THEY TOO are never alone, and their loved ones always count in Redlands.
Never Alonejust one more example of the Redlands Police Department going the extra mile for the citizens of Redlands.
EDITORS NOTE: If you know of anyone who might benefit from any of these components of the Never Alone program, or if you would like to volunteer to help, please contact the RPD at 909-335-4744 or Chief Jim Bueermann at chief@redlandspolice.org
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