Lifeline program plays a role

As published in the Jefferson County Journal .

The American Red Cross is here to help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. As part of that lifesaving mission, the Red Cross reaches out to senior adults in the community with programs and services that are tailored to meet their needs.

On April 13 during an interview with KJFF - 1400 AM Radio, Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center joined Jean Romine from the St. Louis Area Chapter to highlight the Lifeline program, disaster preparedness presentations for seniors, and the Family Caregiving program.

The St. Louis Area Chapter provides Lifeline, a personal emergency response system, to more than 1,100 subscribers located throughout the metropolitan area. Senior adults are offered more independence and peace-of-mind through this service, knowing that help can be summoned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lifeline is based on an individual client's ability to pay, and scholarships are available as needed. Once a person signs up for Lifeline, Red Cross volunteers ensure the client is comfortable using the service. Lifeline monitors are worn either as a necklace or on the wrist. If clients need help, they press the button on their personal monitor. The button notifies a Lifeline operator who checks on the client by speaking through the compact Lifeline speaker installed as part of the client's phone.

If clients say they need help, or if they are unable to respond, Lifeline calls emergency contacts on a predetermined list and asks them to check on the person. These contacts might include family members or friends. If the family or friends are unavailable, Lifeline dispatches emergency personnel. Regardless of the circumstances, the client is never left alone in their time of need.

As a bonus to Lifeline, the St. Louis Area Chapter offers the In-Touch program to all clients. As part of this special service, clients can be placed on a weekly call list to receive friendly check-ups from Red Cross volunteers to ensure they are comfortable using their personal system. The In-Touch program is managed by Lorraine Seibert, a Red Cross volunteer who gives generously of her time, energy and spirit.

Ruiz and Romine next discussed Red Cross disaster education presentations that are specifically designed to help senior adults get prepared for the unexpected. These presentations are free and focus on helping seniors prepare for any type of disaster. During the presentations, seniors are encouraged to take personal responsibility for disaster preparedness by getting a disaster supply kit, creating an emergency plan, and learning how to stay informed during an emergency situation.

Disaster supply kits can significantly improve the quality of life in the aftermath of a disaster. Kits can be purchased from the Red Cross or built at home. Kits should include water, non-perishable foods, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, medications, a battery-operated radio, basic tools and other personal items.

Planning ahead will help people have the best possible response to disaster. Families should establish responsibilities for every person in the household and should choose two places to meet following a disaster - directly outside the home (if an incident happens while the family is there) and outside the neighborhood (if an incident happens while the family is away and cannot return, or if the family is ordered to evacuate by emergency officials).

This emergency plan should be practiced at least twice a year. The presentation for seniors also prepares adults to shelter-in-place or evacuate to a Red Cross shelter, depending on the circumstances.

Being informed includes planning how to receive critical information from emergency management officials during times of disaster. During the preparedness presentation, seniors are encouraged to consider outlets for emergency information - local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio stations or television channels.

The presentation also stresses the need for at least one person in every household to seek training in CPR and First Aid to be equipped to respond in an emergency. Locally, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter trains more than 85,000 people in First Aid and CPR, including more than 15,600 people in the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

To conclude the KJFF Radio interview, Ruiz and Romine introduced listeners to the Family Caregiving program, which is designed to help caregivers cope with their important role in caring for a loved one. Presentations focus on assisting with personal care, positioning and helping a loved one move, general caregiving skills, home safety, healthy eating, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, caring for a loved one with HIV/AIDS, and legal and financial issues.

More than 22 million American families are caring for a loved one at home. More than 60 percent of primary caregivers also work outside the home, adding stress to the challenging role of caregiver. The Red Cross encourages caregivers to also remember their own needs, and the Family Caregiving program provides a necessary support network that provides a unique opportunity to learn from one another.

To learn more about Red Cross senior adult services, including Lifeline, disaster preparedness presentations and the Family Caregiving program, Ruiz and Romine encouraged the public to contact the American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 636.464.9150 or www.redcrossstl.org.

The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF - 1400 AM at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 11.