VEAZIE, Maine — The town’s police and fire departments have teamed up to offer a program that aims to help elderly and disabled residents continue living independent lifestyles.
Project Good Morning, provided at no cost, is available to Veazie residents who are 60 or older and are living alone and to adults with disabilities who are living alone, according to Town Manager Mark Leonard, who also is the town’s police and fire chief.
Those who sign up for the program receive a “good morning” phone call from either a police officer or firefighter each morning between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m. If contact cannot be made by telephone, a police officer or firefighter will go check on the well-being of the participant.
As Leonard sees it, the program also can help ease the minds of participants’ loved ones.
Leonard said that Veazie police Officer Roger Hershey brought the program to the community. So far, one resident has signed up, but there is potential to serve many more in the community, he said. Orono runs a similar program, according to its website.
To sign up, eligible residents should complete an application providing public safety personnel such data as contact information for people who live nearby and their primary care physician, who to notify in the event of an emergency, medical conditions and medications, among other things.
Applications are available at the police and fire departments but can be delivered to those who are unable to get there. For more information, call 947-2358 for the police department and 945-5627 for the fire department.