Changes coming to seniors' 'lifeline' program
NORWICH – The Area Agency on Aging is preparing for changes in the Chenango County Lifeline Program that will affect senior citizens throughout the county who depend on the free service.
In November, the agency announced that it would no longer offer the current service through Philips Lifeline, saying in the Bullthistle Bulletin that the change is “necessary because technological advancements and product development have made our current system outdated” and that Philips Lifeline can no longer support a local monitoring system.
The agency is currently discussing new options for lifeline services that include switching to Doyle Securities from the Buffalo area or continuing a partnership under new stipulations with the Massachusetts based company, Philips Lifeline. The services currently received by Philips Lifeline will still be available to the county until the end of 2012, according to Brian Wessels, coordinator of services at the county Area Agency on Aging, but a decision about whether or not the agency will continue services through the company has not yet been made.
“We are in negotiations with two different companies,” said Wessels. “The county board of supervisors are supportive of the agency providing emergency response services no matter who we enter into the contract with.”
As it stands, Chenango County Lifeline (the agency’s lifeline program through Philips Lifeline) sends distress signals from enrolled seniors directly to a 911 dispatcher in Chenango County. Under a new lifeline agreement, calls will first be sent to a call center of the service provider then forwarded to the county’s 911 dispatcher.
“The immediate concern is how it will affect response time,” said Wessels. He added that if affected, advanced communication systems make the changes in response time minimal.
Regardless of the chosen provider, said Wessels, the biggest change will be a new monthly $30 fee per subscriber. “It will no longer be a contribution based service and we’ll have to charge a fee,” said Wessels, meaning that many may have to forfeit the Lifeline Program. The agency is currently looking for alternatives for those who can’t afford the services, including possible fundraising and grant programs, but there is no anticipation of the service being free again, Wessels added.
When the Area Agency on Aging released its newsletter, it announced that changes would be in effect as of January 2012 while it continues services with Philips Lifeline, but AAA has since been advised by the county’s attorney to further negotiate the contract to work more in favor of the county.
“More than anything, what I’m disappointed in is that we kind of jumped the gun when we put it in the newsletter,” said Wessels. “We are making progress and we want to continue moving forward.”
Presently, the Area Agency on Aging is awaiting the inauguration of newly-elected county board members to appoint a new attorney to review a new contract.
“We have to play the waiting game for now,” Wessels said. Until then, he said “anybody that is currently a lifeline client is getting the service ... If we enter into an agreement, we won’t wait until the end of the year. We will transition and upgrade the equipment before services run out at the end of 2012.”
For further information regarding the changes to the Lifeline Program, call 337-1770.
In November, the agency announced that it would no longer offer the current service through Philips Lifeline, saying in the Bullthistle Bulletin that the change is “necessary because technological advancements and product development have made our current system outdated” and that Philips Lifeline can no longer support a local monitoring system.
The agency is currently discussing new options for lifeline services that include switching to Doyle Securities from the Buffalo area or continuing a partnership under new stipulations with the Massachusetts based company, Philips Lifeline. The services currently received by Philips Lifeline will still be available to the county until the end of 2012, according to Brian Wessels, coordinator of services at the county Area Agency on Aging, but a decision about whether or not the agency will continue services through the company has not yet been made.
“We are in negotiations with two different companies,” said Wessels. “The county board of supervisors are supportive of the agency providing emergency response services no matter who we enter into the contract with.”
As it stands, Chenango County Lifeline (the agency’s lifeline program through Philips Lifeline) sends distress signals from enrolled seniors directly to a 911 dispatcher in Chenango County. Under a new lifeline agreement, calls will first be sent to a call center of the service provider then forwarded to the county’s 911 dispatcher.
“The immediate concern is how it will affect response time,” said Wessels. He added that if affected, advanced communication systems make the changes in response time minimal.
Regardless of the chosen provider, said Wessels, the biggest change will be a new monthly $30 fee per subscriber. “It will no longer be a contribution based service and we’ll have to charge a fee,” said Wessels, meaning that many may have to forfeit the Lifeline Program. The agency is currently looking for alternatives for those who can’t afford the services, including possible fundraising and grant programs, but there is no anticipation of the service being free again, Wessels added.
When the Area Agency on Aging released its newsletter, it announced that changes would be in effect as of January 2012 while it continues services with Philips Lifeline, but AAA has since been advised by the county’s attorney to further negotiate the contract to work more in favor of the county.
“More than anything, what I’m disappointed in is that we kind of jumped the gun when we put it in the newsletter,” said Wessels. “We are making progress and we want to continue moving forward.”
Presently, the Area Agency on Aging is awaiting the inauguration of newly-elected county board members to appoint a new attorney to review a new contract.
“We have to play the waiting game for now,” Wessels said. Until then, he said “anybody that is currently a lifeline client is getting the service ... If we enter into an agreement, we won’t wait until the end of the year. We will transition and upgrade the equipment before services run out at the end of 2012.”
For further information regarding the changes to the Lifeline Program, call 337-1770.
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