LIGHTHOUSE POINT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Senior Advocate Program

In 2003, the City of Lighthouse Point Police Department implemented a pilot program with Judy O'Hara to fund a Senior Advocate position through County grant dollars. The program provides enhanced services for elderly residents determined to be in need of assistance.

Due to the number of elderly residents in Lighthouse Point, the program has become a necessity. To date, Ms. O'Hara along with her network of helpers, has provided assistance to more than 150 Lighthouse Point seniors. The services vary from simply stopping in to check on their welfare to helping arrange for ongoing monitoring and long term care for the most needy.

Examples of the services offered are:

*Regular visits with seniors.

*Coordination with out-of-town family members.

*Arrangement for companions for those that should not live alone.

*Referrals for legal service.

*Assistance with basic life needs such as feeding, shopping, transportation, and paying bills.

*Register seniors in the "RUOK" program.

The program has proven to be a great help to the Police Department staff in that it frees up the investigators to focus more of their time on investigating criminal cases. Ms. O'Hara works closely with the crime prevention detective, Larry Hawkins, and spends approximately 35-40 hours a week on the program.

Ms. O'Hara has served as a Personal & Senior Advocate in Broward County for 10 years. She has developed a network of volunteers, service workers and home health care professionals that assist her in providing services; she has attended training in senior service programs and is well known in the Lighthouse Point area and trusted among the seniors.

For more information please contact James Wright at jwright@lighthousepoint.com .