If you live too far away from a homebound older adult to check in regularly in person, the U.S. postal service may be able to keep a watch on your loved one for you. In many communities, letter carriers volunteer to be on the lookout for changes in the older adult’s routine that may indicate a problem.
For registered individuals, the letter carriers will notice whether the mail is piling up, animals are in distress, lights are burning in the middle of the day and other signs of possible trouble. And, if there is a problem, they will alert the local social service agency that registered the individual.
To learn more about the program, click here. You can also contact the local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers or the post office to find out whether there is a Carrier Alert program in the community where your loved ones live.
Here is more information from Just Care:
- Free local resources to help older adults
- Where will you live in later life? Your community matters
- PACE helps older adults stay in their community
- Medicare finding ways to cover house calls
- Community Aging in Place: Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)
Leave a Reply