RUOK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
RUOK is the common name for a service offered by many local communities that contacts the elderly or handicapped on a daily basis using a phone service. These residents are called to ensure their well being and the service is provided for community members without family or who need temporary monitoring during times when they have limited mobility.
Traditionally, volunteers from the community would call these homebound individuals to check on their well being. Some communities provide additional "friendly chat" as well as the reassurance. These services are also referred to as Call Reassurance or Telephone Reassurance by individual communities.
More communities are now providing an automated telephone reassurance program that uses an autodialer to call the homebound resident and checks to ensure that an individual answers the phone. Some of these systems include an IVR that allows the call recipient to provide a positive response to the phone call to ensure their well being. If the call is not answered, the system can automatically call a family member (if available) or a commutity service organization such as the police or fire department.
Most of these community services are free to the resident. Many state and private organizations provide funding for such programs.
[edit] RUOK operation
Garland County, Arkansas, provides an RUOK program for its senior citizens. The following is a quote from the Sheriff of this county:
"...Thursday, one of the people in my (RUOK) program did not answer her phone. A uniform unit was dispatched and she was found incapacitated and had to be transported to the hospital where she was placed in intensive care. We don't know what's wrong with her and certainly the hospital will not share that information, but what we do know is that the (RUOK) program worked and alerted us when she did not answer her phone..." - Sheriff Larry Sanders, Garland County [Garland County Senior Care]
[edit] Resources
- Call Reassurance Funding Sources Potential Private Funding Groups
- Call Reassurance Providers Communities Providing Reassurance Services
