Article content
Vancouver police are handing free 911 mobile phones to low income seniors to ensure their safety.
Seniors on fixed or low incomes are sometimes less inclined to rely on technology for safety and support, particularly if that support involves a monthly cost, the VPD said, in a news release Wednesday.
Article content
The phones do not come with data, texting, or internet capabilities, and can only be used to call 911 during emergencies.
Article content
“Many seniors live alone, making them especially vulnerable during emergencies, especially if they don’t have family or neighbours to easily lean on,” says Const. Tania Visintin, a spokesperson for the VPD.
She said the phones will include a 14-day standby time, which means the phone does not need to be charged every day, and large, easy-to-read keys.
Police did not provide a set age to qualify for the phones. Visintin said they would prefer just to have people who feel they meet the criteria come by and speak with a VPD staff member, so they don’t exclude anyone.
The phones can be picked up at the Public Information Counter at 2120 Cambie Street. The seniors are asked to provide a piece of identification that shows their first and last name.
-
B.C. teens score grades, social skills after high school’s ban on cellphones
-
B.C. buys affordable seniors housing in Vancouver’s Chinatown
-
Survey by seniors advocate says home support satisfaction declined in past five years
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited, ad-lite get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
