FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 3, 2014

CONTACT: Peter Van Delft
(617) 704-6682

SHERIFF TOMPKINS VISITS MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS’ SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins with the Commissioner of the City of Boston’s Commission on Affairs of the Elderly, Emily Shea.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins recently visited Boston City Hall to speak with members of the City of Boston’s Commission on Affairs of the Elderly’s “Senior Companion Program.”

The Senior Companion Program, which is a part of the Senior Corps, enables healthy seniors ages 60 and over to serve one–on–one with elderly and homebound people who have difficulty completing everyday tasks. Volunteers assist with everything from grocery shopping, bill paying, and transportation to medical appointments. They also alert doctors and family members to potential problems. Created in 1974, the program had grown by 2008 to include 15,200 Senior Companions tending to the needs of more than 65,643 adult clients.

In addition to Sheriff Tompkins’ address, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department officers brought the Department’s Senior ID program to administer to meeting participants.

The program – offered free of charge to Suffolk County seniors aged 65 and older – provides participants with a concise and comprehensive identification card that serves as an important aid to medical responders, should an emergency arise and the holder is unable to communicate. The ID cards include a photo of the cardholder, his or her name, address, and medical history, and the name and phone number of the cardholder’s physician and emergency contact, as well as other pertinent information. In addition, the Senior ID is also accepted as a secondary form of identification by many agencies and institutions around Suffolk County.

Standing before the group, Sheriff Tompkins was heartened to see members of the community acting as their brother’s keepers and making an active attempt to help their fellow neighbors in need.

“I’m very happy to be here, because I’ve heard about the work that you’re doing with other seniors,” said Sheriff Tompkins. “Taking care of others and exercising civic responsibility, that’s what community is all about. The work that we do at the Sheriff’s Department is also about making the community better. We’re working to increase public safety by providing programs and services to the people in our care, custody and control so that they can return to the community better off than they were when they came to us and become healthy, productive citizens.”

For more information about the Senior Companion Program, please visit http://www.cityofboston.gov/elderly/companion.asp.

For information about the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Senior ID Program, visit: www.scsdma.org.

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