Letters

Recently, I had an unpleasant experience while doing a wellness check with police on a centenarian client of mine. Through process of elimination throughout the day, I (along with her out-of-state daughter) knew something was amiss.

I generally phone her a couple of times a day to check in, as I’ve noticed a recent steady decline (understandable given her age), yet nothing major.

After phoning her daughter to ask when she spoke with Mom last, and realizing now that two people who check in on her have been unsuccessful in reaching her, we thought it was trouble on her line due to the impending storm. I then called her phone company to ask if they could see any issues on her line, but was told all is fine.

That was all I needed to know before hopping in my car and racing over there.

I put my ear to the door — generally, I can hear her TV on — and hear nothing. With her daughter on the phone, I am frantically banging on her stairway window. This went on for a while, until we both decide she would have responded by now, as her hearing is sharp.

Downstairs neighbor is watching, and I ask her, “Have you heard any movements upstairs at all today?” She says, “No, but I heard a very big bang last night, and her stairway light was on all night, and she usually turns it out.”

My heart was in my throat as I repeat this to her daughter.

Neighbor never asked anyone to check on her, knowing her age and that she lives alone, so we now call police for a wellness check.

Police and I get in, and upstairs, to find my client on the floor in the living room in excruciating pain, but incredibly elated to hear and see me.

From the time I left her on Saturday (she wanted a little car ride), to the time the neighbor heard a bang, to the time we got to her, I figure she was lying there for approximately 20 hours.

This all ended well, but it could have been different.

Please, please, please — if you hear something, say something. If you see something, say something. Let’s check in on those who may be alone. Senior citizens are so near and dear to my heart.

A huge thank you to Southampton Town Police Department, Hampton Bays EMT and ambulance for helping keep her calm through her pain and fright and handling her as gently as possible.

Let’s check in on our elderly. Thank you.

Jennefer Reeves

Hampton Bays