Norfolk County Sheriff's 'Are You Ok?' Program Helps Three In Matter Of Days

NORFOLK COUNTY, MA — The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office "Are You Ok?" program is proving its value.

Several clients of the free program, including a 93-year-old woman on oxygen from Westwood and a 78-year-old from Quincy, were saved by first responders after local police were notified of potential emergencies at their homes when the clients did not answer their check-in phone call from an officer with the sheriff’s office.

The most recent incident happened on Monday at 8:25 a.m., when the 78-year-old Quincy resident did not pick up her phone and did not answer several attempts after that, officials said.

Following protocol, NCSO Officer Cheryl Bambery first called a family contact, who was not sure where her aunt might be. Bambery then called Quincy Police to ask for a wellness check.

When Quincy officers arrived a short time later, the woman was on the floor and dehydrated. She was taken to Milton Hospital, where she is being cared for. It’s unclear, at this time, how long the woman had been on the floor, officials said.

On Friday, two other women were helped by the program.

The first emergency happened at 8 a.m. and involved the 93-year-old woman from Westwood. The woman did not answer her initial call or several follow-up calls, officials said. Her emergency family contacts could also not be reached.

Bambery then called Westwood Police, who responded to the woman’s home. When police arrived, they found the woman with no power, which had shut off her oxygen system and air conditioning.

The woman said she lost power the evening before when temperatures in the area reached into the 90s. Police were able to help her restore power and made sure she was ok.

“This woman was very thankful that the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office had called Westwood police to check on her,” said Sheriff McDermott. “She told first responders that she did not know what to do when she lost power, because it also affected her ability to make a call for help.”

That same Westwood woman also did not pick up when the sheriff’s office called Monday morning.

When Bambery called to alert Westwood police this time, she was informed that the woman had called 911 earlier in the morning asking for help, and she had been transported to the hospital, where she is now receiving care, officials said.

The third woman assisted by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office lives in Norwood.

The 72-year-old is now receiving care after indicating she was in crisis and “not ok” and hung up the phone when Bambery called her on Friday around 10 a.m.

The sheriff’s office reached out to Norwood Police, who went to the woman’s home. First responders helped get her the care she needed by taking her to a local hospital.

“Are you OK?” is a free program run by the sheriff’s office that offers calls to county residents who live alone and could use a check-in related to their health or well-being.

Norfolk County residents interested in signing up for the program can call 1-866-900-7865 or visit the link here.