VANCOUVER, Wash. — Senior citizens who are living alone are encouraged to sign up for a free welfare check program with two Portland metro sheriff's offices.
"We've seen a rise in 911 calls from relatives and friends to go and check on their elderly loved ones and we've seen patrol is getting more of these calls over the last few weeks," said Clark County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kevin Allais.
In Clark County, the sheriff's community outreach program is launching a welfare check program that will put auxiliary sheriff volunteers like Renee Fillmore in daily contact with seniors.
"We're creating a bond, a relationship with them to make sure that they know they can count on us," Fillmore said.
Clark County has 20 volunteers like Fillmore who will check in every day with seniors. If they are unable to reach them or their emergency contact, a deputy wil then be called to do an in-person welfare check.
"We're trying to give peace of mind to the seniors that are feeling isolated, especially now. A lot of them aren't attending meetings or doctors appointments that they've had. They're not getting out and going to grocery stores. I can't think of a better time to watch out for our seniors," Allais said.
In Clackamas County, the sheriff's office has started the Community Care Initiative, a program designed to keep in contact with the almost 80,000 seniors in the county.
The Community Care Initiative (CCI) is a collaborative effort between the sheriff's office, Clackamas County Health, Housing and Human Services and the Oregon Food Bank. A team of sheriff's office and county employees and volunteers will contact seniors in Clackamas County and ask if they need food, medicine, or household supplies. Volunteers will pack care boxes and make home deliveries with any needed items.
Ryan Brown is the project manager for the Community Care Initiative.
"We wanted to take staff that were otherwise, home or not working and put them to work. The initial thrust of this was to start making outreach calls," he said.
Brown said they have around 25 volunteers and hope to double that amount. In a day, volunteers will make upwards of 1,500 outreach calls.
CCI will deliver food a few days a week but could increase it as demands rise and social outreach programs cutbacks on their respective delivery days.
"To be able to walk up to the porch and have a gesture, that human connection to say we're here for you and here's the food or needs box that you asked for and call us if you need something. There is a relationship in a sense of community and togetherness that we're able to accomplish even within a social distancing parameters," Brown said.
Brown, Fillmore and Allais said the response they get from checking in has been extremely rewarding.
"People are so grateful to hear someone proactively reaching out to them," Brown said. "These are extraordinary times and it feels really good to be meeting this need."
If you'd like to help sign up a senior loved one for either of these programs in Clackamas or Clark County, visit the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's website or email the Clark County Community Outreach program at sheriffcommunityoutreach@clark.wa.gov or call 564-397-3380.