Solano County, Cities Launch Phone Line To Check On Elderly

Maggie Fusek
·2 min read

SOLANO COUNTY, CA – In a collaboration between the county of Solano and its seven cities — Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Dixon and Rio Vista — the new COVID-19 Older Adult Resource Phone Line is up and running, with volunteers already making calls.

The phone line is staffed exclusively by volunteers, and is intended to check in on seniors 60 and older and those living with disabilities to see if they have adequate assistance and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Solano County Spokesperson Matthew Davis.

The resource line is staffed in the county's Emergency Operations Center by a group of volunteers, including nursing students from Solano Community College. The volunteers have already begun checking in with hundreds of residents a day, Davis said.

"Older adults, including those living with disabilities, are at the highest risk of suffering health-related impacts from COVID-19," Davis said. "These individuals may also be more isolated, making it difficult for family members and loved ones to check in on, be present or care for them during the pandemic."

Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments in California. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Volunteers start making calls at 9 a.m. every weekday.

"Following a script, volunteers inquire about the health and well-being of individuals, offering advice answering questions and connecting them to services available in the community, including housing, food and mental health services," Davis said. "If nobody answers, volunteers leave a voicemail, encouraging residents to call the COVID-19 Older Adult Resource Telephone Line."

Solano County residents who are 60 or older and/or are living with disabilities are encouraged to call the resource line at 707-784-1607 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday with any questions they might have.

The call is free, and Davis noted that volunteers staffing the line do not ask for any financial or personal identification information.

As part of the COVID-19 Older Adult Resource Telephone Line, the county has scripts available for community members to reference when checking-in on, caring for and supporting elderly neighbors, older adults and those living with disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic. The "how-to help older adults during the Coronavirus pandemic" and "conducting well-checks" telephone scripts are posted to the county's website in the Solano County COVID-19 resources for older adults section.

This article originally appeared on the Dixon Patch