Telephone Reassurance
This program provides a free daily outreach service to senior citizens who live alone. REASSURANCE Volunteers phone clients once each day to check on their well-being. Any senior citizen (60+) who lives alone in Mercer County is eligible for this free service.
Volunteers receive training in emergency procedures prior to beginning their service.
A senior citizen, wanting to become a client of REASSURANCE, calls the CONTACT business office to sign up for the program. (609) 883-2880
Staff meet with the Client, explain the program and get important information.
A REASSURANCE volunteer, who has gone through a short training, is paired with each client and is responsible for calling the client daily, at a prearranged time that is agreeable to both. The two are paired within calling areas so there is no cost to the volunteer. The purpose of the call is simply to check on the well-being of the client and should take no more than five minutes. If the client does not answer, the volunteer telephones for help.
How does REASSURANCE work?
The service is free.
Tax-deductible donations are gratefully accepted from clients, volunteers, and others.
What does a REASSURANCE call cost?
The volunteer callers are people who wish to be of service to others on a regular basis. Participation in this REASSURANCE program takes no more than five minutes a day.
Usually, volunteers have only one client, but may have more. They are also partners to others.
Volunteers have a partner who fills in when he/she is away and cannot make the call.
Volunteers will receive training and must be 18 years old or older.
Who are the REASSURANCE clients and what are their responsibilities?
Any senior citizen who lives alone in Mercer County is eligible for the Free REASSURANCE Service.
Clients give contact information on nearby people who can be contacted in case of emergency and personally go to the home if the client doesn't answer. Clients give the name of Doctor and Hospital in case of emergency and sign a liability release.
Clients are given the two HOTLINE telephone numbers, which are available 24 hours a day, in case they have an emergency or wish to talk to someone at length. The HOTLINE is another service of CONTACT of Mercer County.
Clients must answer the phone when they are called. If they are unable to be home for the call on any given day, they must notify the CONTACT HOTLINE in advance.
Who operates REASSURANCE?
Who are the REASSURANCE callers and what are their responsibilities?
What does CONTACT do?
Last updated: March 30, 2006
REASSURANCE is one of the major activities of CONTACT of Mercer County which provides a telephone hotline service to citizens of Mercer County.
Funding comes from The Mercer County Office on Aging and Donations from individuals.
CONTACT has a small administrative staff.
All major activities are conducted by the volunteers.
A 24 hour, seven days a week, telephone Hotline, suicide intervention and caring, listening service for people in Mercer County.
A 24 hour referral and information service.
A daily KIDSLINE for children home alone after school.
A daily Reassurance call for seniors in Mercer County.
