I'M OK program opens doors to safety - American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

I'M OK program

Residents living alone at 10 Lehigh Valley senior housing complexes are resting easier thanks to the Red Cross I'M OK Program. The program ensures that senior residents will have someone check on them each day.

"The program is a real neighbor-helping-neighbor opportunity. I'M OK helps all who are involved, both residents and management," said Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services at the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. "The program is so simple. And, it saves lives."

No fancy technology is needed. In fact, all you need is a simple laminated door hanger. Here's how it works:

Residents are given an I'M OK door hanger.
The hanger is hung on the outside doorknob of their apartment at an appointed hour each morning.
In the morning, a resident volunteer checks each door for the I'M OK hanger. If the hanger is on the doorknob, the volunteer turns the hanger to its blank side, letting the occupant know that he or she has been "checked on." Residents then remove the hanger from the door.
If the volunteer doesn't see an I'M OK hanger, help is summoned.

It's as simple as that. And it works.

At Little Lehigh Manor in Allentown, three residents received lifesaving support thanks to their participation in the program. Likewise, one resident at the Oliver C. Border House in Nazareth received lifesaving support through the I'M OK program. If someone had not been looking for their door hanger, it's conceivable that the residents could have gone unnoticed for many more hours or possibly days.

The I'M OK program started in Rochester, N.Y., in 1974. In 2002, the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross piloted the program at Little Lehigh Manor. Now, in addition to Little Lehigh Manor, these senior facilities are using I'M OK: Allentown Center Square, Allentown; Oliver C. Border House, Nazareth; John Daumer Manor, Bath; Grandview Terrace, Easton; Gross Towers, Allentown; Howard Jones Manor, Bath; Moravian Village, Bethlehem; Nazareth Senior Apartments, Nazareth; and Shiloh Manor, Easton.

For more information on this neighbor-helping-neighbor opportunity, call Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services at the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross at (610) 865-4400, ext. 229.