Sunday, February 20, 2011
By LINDA M. LINONIS
linonis@vindy.com
liberty
Person-to-person connections make a difference in daily lives.
Kathy Welsh, receptionist at the township police department, makes calls to check the welfare of residents weekdays as part of the township’s Senior Watch Program. “I know when something is not right,” she said.
Recently, a routine call turned into anything but that. In the program, seniors make advance arrangements as to the time and frequency of calls. For example, someone may be regularly called at 9 a.m. weekdays.
Welsh called one 85-year-old man at his prescribed check time, between 8:30 and 9 a.m., and got a busy signal. When she tried again, the line was busy. Welsh, who has rapport with the seniors, exchanges pleasantries and learns bit and pieces about their lives. She said she knew this resident did not talk on the phone for long periods, so she became concerned.
Welsh alerted police Capt. Toby Meloro, who had the phone company check the line. There was no conversation going on.
Meloro went to the man’s home, and upon approaching the house, could hear him shouting for help.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.