Ninety-four year old Sophie
Valley lives by herself in Sullivan. She
has limited mobility and is not able to complete her daily living tasks on her
own. Her daughter Chris assists her so
she can remain at home rather give up living independently. Chris Brake is her mother’s caregiver through
Heartland Independent Living Center’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) personal
care attendant services program. She helps her mom with her meals, daily
chores, activities and also transportation. “I’m there every morning to fix
breakfast, and every evening for dinner,” says Chris.
One obstacle posed a threat
to Sophie staying alone in her home - - what happens if she is incapacitated in
some way and can’t get to the phone to get help?
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94-year old Sophie Valley raised 11 children in the
Sullivan area and is not about to give up her
independence now. She lives alone and her daughter
Chris helps
her with meals and activities. “Mom is sharp
and still has all her wits,” says
Chris. “She will
remain in her own home
for as long as she can. When
her
independence is removed, so is her will to live.”
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SFD Auxiliary
Treasurer Melissa Larrison displays
a Knox-Box that the department provides
free of
charge to disabled and/or elderly Sullivan residents.
The locked box contains a key to the
consumer’s
door so that emergency personnel are able to
enter the residence. The Auxiliary purchased 43
Knox-Boxes for
consumer use. “The Sullivan
community
supports the fire department,” says
Melissa, “and we in turn support our
community.”
Pictured with Melissa is Billy Harris, Sullivan Fireman
and
Missouri Baptist Hospital paramedic.
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Sophie did indeed fall last
winter and couldn’t get up. “I just laid
there and watched the clock,” says Sophie.
“Chris is always here by 6:00 am, so I just told myself I’d be OK until
she got here.” And she was. Chris says God must have been pushing her
along that day as she got there earlier than usual.
Following Sophie’s fall, her
Heartland CDS Specialist suggested providing her with a Guardian Alert
emergency communications device, which Heartland supplies free of charge to
qualified consumers. Sophie now wears
the Alert knowing that if she get in trouble, she can push the button and
receive immediate assistance. And, her
daughter will also be notified of the emergency.
Now Sophie faced another potential risk. “Mom has family and friends who visit, but I’ve always told her to keep her doors locked when family members are not there,” states Chris, “but, how does someone get in case of emergency?”
Through local firemen, Chris
was informed of the Knox-Box, a locked safety box attached to the front door
that can only be accessed by the Fire Department or EMS personnel. The consumer’s door key is kept in the
Knox-Box so an emergency team can enter the home without forced entry. “This prevents costly repairs to doors or
windows,” says Sullivan Fireman and Missouri Baptist Hospital Paramedic Billy
Harris. “But more importantly, it saves
life-threatening time in assisting the person.” The box is secure as it is
remotely opened through Franklin County Dispatch by a call from the fire truck
Captain arriving on the scene. The box
is immediately opened, the call is logged, and the box is remotely relocked
once the emergency is over.
The Sullivan Fire Department
(SFD) provides the Knox-Box free of charge to qualified individuals throughout
the fire district. The SFD Auxiliary
purchased 43 Knox-Boxes for consumer use with money raised from fund-raising
activities. The only thing the
Department asks is that when the box is no longer needed, it be returned for
recycling to another consumer.
“I can now go home and sleep
at night knowing that Mom is safe,” says Chris.
“Mom and I both have peace of mind knowing that help is on the way
whenever she needs it. We thank both
Heartland and the Fire Department for that.”