For any Alexandrian living alone, whether elderly or with health problems, emergency help is just a button away. That’s the essence of the Life Safety Alert Program, administered by the Alexandria Office on Aging and Adult Services in conjunction with the Alexandria Fire Department. It's mission is to assist "medically at-risk Alexandria residents maintain independent living situations."
Francie H. Fox, a geriatric social worker with the city's Department of Human services, has been involved with the program for the past 12 years. "There are people who might not be able to live independently without this program," she said. "It assists people in medical emergencies and gives them someone to call 24 hours a day. It provides a sense of security.”
"The system was first mandated by City Council during the administration of Mayor Jim Moran," said Jane Malik, public information officer for Alexandria Fire Department. "Presently we have 129 units. But not all are in use. Those who are using the system run the gamut from the elderly to those with medical problems."
A Safety Alert System consists of a small wall unit, placed in the home and hard-wired to the telephone. It is activated by a button that can be worn around the neck, or attached to a wheelchair or walker.
Once the button is pressed it dials the telephone to the Fire Department's Emergency Communications Center where it is received by the computer and an alarm is activated, according to Malik. The fire dispatcher then calls the individual to verify the assistance needed.
AS SOON AS the dispatcher verifies the emergency, or if there is no answer at the site of the signal, rescue equipment and personnel are immediately dispatched. The total system includes a smoke detector which is also electronically tethered to the dispatcher. When this is activated the same procedure is followed.
Mona Pristosh, an 83-year-old resident of Claridge House on Ripley Street, has had the system for two and one half years. "I feel much more secure with it. I've had a couple of incidents were I've passed out. Before I got the system, my husband was still alive and could help me. Now I'm alone," she said.
Another Claridge House resident, Arlene Uhrig, also 83, has had the system since 1995. "It's wonderful. I've only had to use it once. That was last December. I woke up one morning and could hardly breath or speak. I pushed the button and they came right away and got me to the hospital," she recalled.
The cost of the Life Safety Alert Program is $20 per month for those with incomes above $750 a month, according to Fox and Malik. For those with incomes below that threshold it is free. That fee includes installation, all maintenance and any parts replacement.
ANY UNIT THAT is donated to the program is automatically free to the recipient. "In many cases children will pay the costs for their parents. It also gives them piece of mind," Fox noted.
That was the case with Uhrig. "My son got this for me and its been excellent," she said.
Each unit costs the city approximately $810 which includes all upkeep. The city's contract with ADT, the monitoring company, calls for maintenance and replacement of any faulty units, according to Malik. A committee composed of Fox, a fire department representative, and ADT meet once a month to evaluate the program and equipment.
One of the concerns of many users is how emergency personnel will get into the home when called. "Customers may have an extra key placed in a lock box near the front door. That way the fire department can use the owner's key to open the door," Fox said.
Alice E. Addison, an Emergency Communications Technician with the fire department, noted that there is a wide variance in the number of calls received on a monthly basis.
"So far this year we've had a low of two calls in March and a high of nine in April," she said. "Our total for 2003 through May has been 24."
THOSE WISHING to participate are interviewed by the Office of Aging and Adult Services. As explained to each applicant, once they are accepted into the program, the fire department arranges to have the equipment installed in the customer's home by a third party contractor. The customer contacts the fire department to have maintenance performed or to have the unit removed. The third party contractor does the actual work on the equipment. The fire department monitors the main control unit for signals from customers.