Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 19/98) - It's a scenario most seniors dread no matter how independent they may be in their thinking or lifestyles.

The thought of being alone and confronted with an emergency situation threatening their well-being is enough to weigh heavily on the mind of any senior, no matter how self-sufficient.

Now, thanks to the combined efforts of the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors (YACCS), Elk's Lodge No. 314, the fire department, senior's society and Stanton regional hospital's home-care program, that concern is being addressed.

The Seniors Emergency Alerting System (SEAS) is being implemented to provide Yellowknife seniors with a way to summon an emergency-response team when in trouble in their own home.

Gail Hill, business manager for the Aven Manor, said the program sees a phone-like unit connected to a normal telephone line in the senior's home.

The senior wears a push button pendent and, when there's an emergency, can push a button from wherever they are in their home.

"The unit automatically calls the Yellowknife fire department's emergency line and repeatedly plays a message until it is acknowledged," said Hill.

"The message identifies the location and the emergent nature of the call and the fire department will respond with an ambulance and a fire truck."

Hill said to be eligible for a SEAS unit, a person must be at least 60 years of age, living in Yellowknife (including Ndilo), living alone or spending a significant amount of time alone and have a phone line.

"The person must also be prone to falls or have a medical condition which puts them at risk.

"Someone with a heart condition or prone to blackouts would be a prime candidate," said Hill.

Deputy fire Chief Mike Lowing said there has been concern in some southern areas, where the senior population is considerably higher, over abuse of the system.

However, he said that's not a major concern in Yellowknife because the area's senior population is very responsible.

"This is a quality of life issue and the SEAS program will help increase that quality of life for some of our community's seniors.

"Seniors in the North are more independent than, maybe, some other centres.

"We had one women who said, 'Oh, maybe I'll just take a taxi.' When I asked her why, when she could have an ambulance, she responded, 'Oh, I don't want to bother you guys.'"

The Elks Lodge No. 314 provided funding for 30 of the SEAS units. So far seven have been installed, with four more scheduled for installation this week.