American Red Cross and Lifeline Program Helps Seniors at Home with a Push of a Button
News Release: November 15, 2011
Contact: Janice Osborne, Regional Communication Officer
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


The American Red Cross is seeking to reach more seniors and their caregivers with the expansion of the Lifeline by the American Red Cross Program, a monitoring service designed to provide seniors with help at the push of a button.

On average, one in three adults over the age of 65 falls each year, making such accidents the most common cause of death or injury in the home and creating real concern for seniors and their loved ones. The expansion of the program is being announced during National Caregivers Month.

"The Red Cross has worked with Philips Lifeline, the industry's leading senior medical alert service for more than 25 years to help people prepare for, prevent and respond to emergencies," said Laura Sheehan, regional Lifeline manager for the American Red Cross. "By offering Philips Lifeline, we give seniors here in our community a meaningful and needed service, allowing them to have the confidence to continue to live in the homes they love, knowing that help is readily available."

Philips Lifeline is a medical alert service designed to reduce the risk of living alone. Red Cross Lifeline Solutions Specialists will be educating health care providers on how the Lifeline service works. For a little more than a dollar a day, seniors throughout the community can purchase the Lifeline Service through the Red Cross.

For more information about Lifeline by the American Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or redcrosslv.org/lifeline.html or call 1-800-959-6989.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 92,300 people through preparedness and training classes, military support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief, information and referral and other education and outreach programs. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.