The Noblesville Fire Department (NFD) announced it is collaborating with the Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County (SCHC) to launch a new service for the citizens of Noblesville.
The Noblesville Senior Outreach Program is designed to help provide certain in-home services that senior citizens need. The program is voluntary, free of charge, and is customizable to the needs and desires of the citizen, and can include: NFD personnel performing a safety inspection of the home to check for fire and health hazards specifically targeting slip and trip hazards, checking and replacing smoke detector batteries, installing replacement smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors if needed, and installing exterior key lockboxes. If further services are requested, NFD can connect citizens with the Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County.
According to the SCHC website, “Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County provides programs to promote and support independent lifestyles for seniors in Hamilton County. Our vision is to be known throughout Hamilton County as a trusted resource for connecting seniors with beneficial programs to support their independence. Through our programs, seniors have the opportunity to connect with services or to other individuals that will help enrich independent lifestyles.”
NFD Fire Chief Greg Wyant added, “Statistically, roughly 10 percent of our call volume comes from slips, trips and falls. Of those falls, approximately 75 percent are from residents 55 and older. NFD began developing this program several months ago and I am proud that it is now finalized and being officially launched. It will allow us to help the seniors in our community remain independent by proactively identifying and fixing issues in their homes or referring them to SCHC.”
To date, NFD has successfully completed four in-home visits. If you or someone you know are interested in participating in the Noblesville Senior Outreach Program, you can schedule an in-home visit from NFD personnel by calling (317) 776-6336 or emailing nfdscheduling@noblesville.in.us.
If you would like to learn more about the Sheppard’s Center of Hamilton County, visit shepherdscenterofhamiltoncounty.org.