Through contact made by the patrol officers during their daily tour of duty, individuals meeting the criteria are referred immediately to the Elderly Services Practitioner for follow-up. Contact is then made at the residence of the special needs individual where emergency information is recorded in an “Elderly Special Needs” report and each individual is visited routinely. In addition to the information provided by the citizen, a current photograph is taken and included with the report, so that should an emergency arise where the identity of a special needs person is required the photograph is readily accessible to the police officers. Through this community outreach program, many of the citizens that may otherwise be overlooked are now routinely contacted and checked on.

Since its inception, the “RuOK Program” has serviced over 275 seniors, special needs and others at risk individuals. The current “well being contact list” contains over 60 Longwood citizens who receive continuous home visits by the Elderly Practitioners.

A few of the service providers currently working with the Longwood “RuOk Program” include:

- Department of Children and Families, Elder Services
- Meals on Wheels
- Multi-disciplinary team of the 18th Judicial Circuit States Attorney Office
- Nursing Homes
- At home health care providers
- At Risk Management Team (Seminole County)
- TRIAD
- Seminole Community Mental Health
- Crisis Intervention Team
- Guardian Care and Geriatric Service
- Sharing Center

An important part of the service provided through the “RuOK Program” is gathering information about those in the community who filled out special needs requests with local service providers, but for some reason were denied. Even though they did not qualify for special status with the County, they are part of the Longwood “at risk” group and therefore the “RuOk Program” follow-up where they are continually evaluated and provided with necessary assistance.

Through the “RuOK Program” an emergency team can contact each of Longwood’s at risk people quickly should the need arise; such as in the event of a hurricane or other catastrophic event. The system was tested during the 2004/2005 hurricane season with great success. On a more routine basis, the program addresses common issues such as elderly abandonment, missing and endangered “at risk” individuals, elderly exploitation, abuse and neglect of special needs citizens, as well as finding assistance with any other needs as required on an individual basis.

Included in the program are each of the city’s several nursing homes and at-home medical providers. Each are contacted and emergency and general and contact information is recorded should an emergency arise and contact be necessary.

One of the most important prongs of the program is the visitation portion of the program. Personal contact is made with each of the “RuOK Program” participants. This allows for a continuous well-being check and provides critical bench marks necessary for assessing these individuals on critical tasks such as activities of daily living (bathing, eating, mobility, etc.), as well as more complex tasks such as driving. Education and service referral information is also provided to family members who are attempting to care for these individuals.

Finally, if the Elder Service Practitioner feels there is a danger to the special needs individual, he/she must contact the Florida Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services Team. This team performs an evaluation of the individual and living conditions and will make a determination about capacity issues, abuse, neglect, self-neglect, fraud or exploitation issues that may or may not generate criminal proceedings. The ultimate goal is the safety and well-being of the special needs individual.