Westlake police checked on a 91-year-old after she stopped answering calls — what they found left her family embarrassed
Grandma was part of Westlake's 'Are You Okay?' program that conducts daily phone calls to check in on seniors
On April 9, when Ohio's police officers pulled up to a home in Westlake, they were mentally prepared for the somber reality that comes with checking up on a senior citizen who isn't answering their calls. But what they found inside was far from what they had imagined. It all started with a daughter registering her 91-year-old mother for the city's 'Are You Okay?' program, which allows residents to sign up for a daily phone call to make sure everything is okay, according to News 5 Cleveland.
It's a great initiative by the city to keep an eye on its senior citizens, including this 91-year-old woman, who was in touch with the team until the second week of April, when she stopped responding. "Everyone's a little bit alarmed that she's missing these contacts," Westlake Police Captain Jerry Vogel said. Following numerous failed attempts from the police and the senior citizen's family, the officers dispatched a team to check out what was happening. However, she didn't answer her door either, leaving the police with no other option but to enter her house.
The police decided to use a code to open the woman's garage door and saw that her car was inside. In the clip released by the police, the officer can be seen walking into the house, announcing himself, but the rest of the footage had been cut to hide the woman's identity. However, the audible conversation reveals what happened next. "We're here with her," the officer said. "She's playing video games in her bedroom." Police further reported that the woman was fine but missed the calls because she was trying to beat her record in a video game.
"Everyone got a good laugh out of it," said Vogel. "It's a great reminder that Westlake residents have that service for them, and they can sign up any time they want," he further added. Westlake residents interested in signing up for the 'Are You Okay?' program can email Westlake Outreach Coordinator Donna Feorene at dfeorene@cityofwestlake.org for more information or to sign up. Nonetheless, while this check-up ended with all smiles, unfortunately, more often than not, that's not the case.
According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 24% of Americans aged 65 or older are considered to be socially isolated. While there are challenges in measuring social isolation and loneliness precisely, the situation is quite concerning as it significantly increases the risk of premature mortality. Luckily, that wasn't the case with this senior citizen, who seemed to be having the time of her life playing video games. However, the people were disappointed that the police officers didn't ask her what game she was playing.
"The real crime is that they didn't ask what game she was playing," @ifuasgdfuiph wrote. Meanwhile, @celticsafricana4984 was impressed with her dedication. "A gaming marathon at 91 years old? I honestly salute her!" he commented. "Granny locked in!" @jodyrobinson7560 added, as the community was impressed by the 91-year-old's lifestyle.
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