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In conjunction with September being National Preparedness Month, local
executives and officials will kick off a new program titled "Designated
Safe Haven For Frail Seniors."
The program was initiated by the
Attleboro Council on Aging, which sought grants and donations to fund the
program and the support of key local organizations.
Among those in
support of the program, Mayor Kevin Dumas, Attleboro Fire Chief Ronald
Churchill and Executive Director of Christopher Heights Walter Ohanian
will sign the new program into effect with a "Memorandum of Understanding"
at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Christopher Heights.In
addition to the focus on National Preparedness Month, Council on Aging
Director Madeleine McNielly notes that the anniversaries of the Sept. 11,
2001 terrorist attacks and last year's devastating hurricanes serve as
serious reminders that emergency preparedness is important to all
citizens,
especially seniors and people with disabilities.
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"While emergency preparedness is a critical task for everyone, it is
especially so for senior service providers," McNielly said.
"The
people we serve often need special assistance in hearing, reading and-or
understanding the language of emergency orders, caring for themselves, and
getting out of a building and to a safe place, if need be.
As such,
she notes that the goal of "Designated Safe Haven For Frail Seniors." is
for everyone, including the frail elderly, to be ready in case of an
emergency.
In the event that local municipal and/or state
government declares a state of emergency forcing evacuation of frail
elderly from their homes, the Council on Aging has initiated a
pre-arranged agreement with Christopher Heights, a local assisted living
facility, that it will provide, on short notice, shelter to 20 to 30 frail
elderly and provide appropriate support services not available in a
general shelter for up to a two-week duration.
Services under this agreement |
will include handicap facilities,
special meal preparation,
medication management and trained staffing available 24 hours a day seven
days a week.
Donations to support this effort have been provided
by grants from the Attleboro Founation and Bristol County Estate Planning
Council and a donation from the South Attleboro Lions Club.
Other
elements of the program will include the dissemination of Storm Safety
Bulletins and Emergency Preparedness Workshops held this month. The next
workshop, "Pets and Disaster - Get Prepare!" is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Council on Aging.
Janettte
Sears can b reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or at janette@janettesears.com
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