BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. — The Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office launched their “R U OK Program” late last month. It’s a program aimed at helping vulnerable adults living alone.
Here’s how it works.
Once a week, the sheriff’s office will call those enrolled in the program to do a wellness check. If after three calls there is no answer, the participant's emergency contact will be notified and, if they don’t answer as well, a deputy will be deployed to their house to check in.
Bamberg County Sheriff Kenny Bamberg says this program has been thought about since 2021, and he hopes residents use it.
“I think our community can benefit from this program, so we’re going to make it available and it's there for our citizens," Bamberg said. "Hopefully, they’ll take advantage of it and enroll in this program.”
Deputy Shauntina Benson is the coordinator for the “R U OK Program." She says this is designed to make sure that everyone is the community is being taken care of.
“It’s beneficial because most people are out-of-state, out of town," said Benson. "They’re calling, 'I haven’t talked to mom for three weeks, three days.' It's just a sense of security for those who really care about their loved ones.”
Kay Clary is the director of the Bamberg County Office on Aging. They deliver meals daily to 200 seniors in the community. She says this program will help beyond what they are able to do.
“There’s so many of these seniors that we deliver to that do not see another face during the day, don’t hear from anybody, we’re the only person, and to have R U OK Program will give them somebody else to talk to," Clary said. "A lot of these people that have families, but there are a lot that do not have anyone or their family lives away, and this will give them an opportunity to get checked on.”
Applications and consent forms are located online and can be turned in to the sheriff’s office or the email listed on the form.
Sheriff Bamberg said this program is for more than just senior members in the community.
“I would ask any member of Bamberg County, if you know someone that’s at risk or someone that’s living alone, maybe have some medical conditions or some issues ... just if they’re at a higher risk, please, I would urge for you to enroll them in this program," Bamberg said. "We will be there for this community just like this community has been there for us.”
The program hotline runs 24/7 and the sheriff's office will also be doing an initial home visit to welcome new participants in the program.