For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Arlington to Offer Fire and Home Safety Program to Elderly Residents

ARLINGTON — Health and Human Services Director Christine Bongiorno and Fire Chief Robert Jefferson are pleased to announce that the Arlington Council on Aging and the Arlington Fire Department are offering a fire and home safety program to senior residents.

The program was made possible through state funding supported by State Sen. Cindy Friedman and State Rep. Sean Garballey and will provide new or replacement smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors to Arlington residents over the age of 60. Additionally, the program will include an in-home fall risk assessment.

“This is a vital program for our seniors to ensure their homes are equipped with life-saving detectors and to minimize the chance of falls or other injury,” said Council on Aging Director Susan Carp. “Here in Arlington, we know that senior falls are a major concern. Our data shows that we have twice the rate of death from a fall in the senior population in Arlington than at the state level.”

To qualify for the free program, residents must:

• Be 60 years of age or older and,
• Have no working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, or
• Smoke or carbon monoxide detectors that are more than 10 years old.

“More than 50 percent of seniors in Arlington live alone and we want to make sure they have the resources they need so they will be prepared if there is a fire, and to protect themselves against any potential hazards,” Chief Jefferson said. “Properly functioning alarms add valuable time during an emergency situation, so please make sure you have them in your home.”

Residents who qualify for the program can request the detector service by calling the Arlington Council on Aging at 781-316-3400. If residents do not need detectors, but would like an in-home fall risk assessment, they can also call the Council on Aging at 781-316-3400.

Funding for the program will end on June 30, so qualifying residents are encouraged to request an installation and home safety assessment before that date. For additional information, or to apply for this program, contact the Arlington Council on Aging at 781-316-3400.

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