YCSO reminds public of ‘Are You Ok’ reassurance program

Over the past few months, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous calls requesting welfare checks on elderly persons who have not been seen or heard from by family members or friends.

In many of these cases, the welfare checks led to the discovery of these persons in severe medical distress and YCSO would like to remind the public of the “Are You Ok?” reassurance program.

The program is available to all senior citizens and disabled persons living anywhere in Yuma County and is also a free telephone reassurance service provided by YCSO that ensures daily contact with both senior and disabled citizens that live alone.

The “Are You Ok?” system makes daily computer-generated calls to subscribers at their pre-determined time each day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

If the subscriber is fine, they then hang up the phone after hearing the pre-recorded message. However, if they do not answer or if the telephone line is busy, then the computer will call the subscriber a second time.

If there is still no answer or the telephone line stays busy after the second attempt, the computer will issue an alert and generate a printout with the subscriber’s name, address and other pertinent information.

A dispatcher will then attempt to contact the subscriber by phone to check on their well-being and if unable to make contact with the subscriber, a deputy will be dispatched to the residence to check on the welfare of the subscriber or the appropriate agency will be contacted to request a welfare check.

Since the program’s launch in September 1996 , many lives have been saved. YCSO hopes to help the community by bringing awareness to the free service.

Applications are available at the YCSO Main Office, Foothills substation and online Yumacountysheriff.org

or by calling the YCSO Volunteer Office at (928) 819-2212 or (928) 819-2213 .