Clark County Sheriff’s Office starts program to help seniors

The Senior Wellness Check is a free service coordinated by local law enforcement agencies utilizing volunteers to make regular contact with participants by phone

VANCOUVER — Being alone and isolated is one of the greatest fears of older adults. The Senior Wellness Check allows older adults who live alone to have comfort and security in the knowledge that someone is checking in on them on a regular basis.

The Senior Wellness Check is a free service coordinated by local law enforcement agencies utilizing volunteers to make regular contact with participants by phone.

The timing of the Senior Wellness Check program is due to COVID-19 and the urgent need to provide a means of contact for the most vulnerable population, but it will be an ongoing service.

Volunteers will be paired with seniors who sign-up for the program and will call to check on them at a time and frequency mutually agreed upon.  If contact is not made after three attempts and the emergency contact cannot be reached, law enforcement will be dispatched to perform a welfare check.  Participating agencies include Vancouver, La Center, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Washougal Police Departments.

The timing of this new program is due to COVID-19 and the urgent need to provide a means of contact  for the most vulnerable population, but it will be an ongoing service.

Older adults who live alone and are residents of Clark County (except for residents in the City limits of Camas), need to fill out an application to receive the free service.  Applications can be requested from the Sheriff’s Office Outreach Unit at (564) 397-3380 or email sheriffcommunityoutreach@clark.wa.gov.

Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.