Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 27, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Is Your Aging Parent Safe at Home? Dear Savvy Senior, After watching the coverage of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, I’m worried about my own elderly mother who lives alone in another state. I want to make sure she’s safe without being intrusive. Are there simple, affordable ways to check in on her from afar? --Concerned Son Dear Concerned, You’re not alone. High-profile cases like this often heighten fears, especially for adult children whose parents live alone and may be vulnerable. The good news is there are several free or low-cost ways to stay connected and gain peace of mind without infringing on your mother’s independence. Here are some nice options to consider. Check-In App If your mother uses a smartphone, a simple solution is Snug (snugsafe.com), a free app that checks in daily to confirm she’s OK. It’s used by tens of thousands of older adults who live alone and want their loved ones alerted quickly if something goes wrong. Here’s how it works: After downloading the app, your mother selects a daily check-in time. Snug sends several reminders leading up to that time, prompting her to confirm she’s OK by tapping a large green button on her screen. If she doesn’t check in within 10 minutes after her scheduled time, the app automatically notifies her emergency contacts and shares her last known location so help can be sent promptly. For added peace of mind, Snug also offers a Dispatch Plan ($20 per month or $200 per year) that includes multiple daily check-ins. If she misses one, Snug will call her directly to see if she’s OK. If there’s still no response, they can request an in-person wellness check by local authorities, who will visit her home to make sure she’s safe. The app works with both iPhone and Android devices. Check-In Calls If your mother doesn’t use a smartphone, a daily check-in call program can provide similar reassurance. Many police or sheriff’s departments nationwide offer telephone reassurance programs, often free of charge. Typically, an automated system calls at a set time each day. If she answers, all is well. If she doesn’t pick up after repeated attempts, or the call goes to voicemail, her emergency contact is notified. If that contact can’t be reached, backup contacts are called. As a last resort, local police or emergency services may be dispatched to her home. To see if this service is available in your mother’s community, call her local police department’s nonemergency number or the Area Agency on Aging at 800-677-1116. If no local program exists, private companies like CareCall or ConfirmOK offer similar services for a monthly fee. Technology Aids You might also consider simple home technology to enhance her safety. Monitored medical alert systems are among the most common – wearable “help buttons,” some with fall detection, that allow her to call for help 24/7 while immediately notifying you. These typically cost around $1 per day. Other options include motion or contact sensors placed around the home to track daily routines and alert you to unusual activity, or a small security camera with night vision, motion detection and two-way audio that allows you to check in visually and even speak directly with her. Basic sensors and cameras can cost under $35, though they require Wi-Fi and do raise privacy considerations, so it’s important to discuss them with your mother beforehand. While no solution can eliminate every risk, these tools can provide meaningful peace of mind, for both you and your mother, while preserving her independence. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. MAYOR | FROM PAGE 8 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toward the city’s ongoing lead pipe removal project, which to date has taken out 330 lead pipes around the community, as Malden moves toward one of the city’s biggest goals: lead pipe-free by 2032. • Affordable housing remains a top priority of the city, with 200 new affordable units “in the pipeline for Malden residents”; with construction planned at Overlook Ridge and 245 Bryant St., investment in affordable housing projects is soaring to nearly $200 million. • Malden received a $500,000 grant from MassDOT Complete Streets Program to improve accessibility and safety at city intersections and on roads. Malden also purchased two new fire engines at a cost of nearly $500,000 in ARPA funds as well as new police vehicles. • Rubin announced that an additional $1.4 million in grant money was used to upgrade mechanical operations in city buildings this past year, and the city just last week announced a new $850,000 federal grant with the assistance of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, to be used to repair aging school roofs on the city’s K-8 schools. • City Clerk Desiderio reported pursuing grants to preserve and digitize historical city documents dating back to 1843, and make them accessible online. Also, the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, along with the Chinese Progressive Association, Greater Boston Legal Services, and the Asian Community Development Corporation, gave Malden an “A” on their voting rights report card. • A combination of federal, state and local grants are funding the new Malden River Works climate resilient park, which will allow Malden to become one of many cities with vibrant river walks. • A new 12-unit veterans housing project at 105 Salem St., led by Volunteers of America of Massachusetts, will convert a former office space into dedicated housing for veterans, complete with onsite supportive services. • The City Council has worked diligently in legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which can offer creative ways to find solutions to the housing crunch. • “The most significant project in decades,” the Ward 3 Malden Hospital redevelopment, done in partnership with Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare, is a state-of-the-art 144-bed behavioral health hospital that will meet a growing regional need while adding to the commercial tax base, since Acadia is a for-profit provider. • Council President Linehan pointed out steps taken by the Council to make the city more “livable and affordable,” including the Ward Five pocket forest, the new Bainbridge Street speed humps and the citywide Porch Fest. All of the ideas for these initiatives originated with residents. • The City Council created a new Economic Development Committee led by Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor. The committee is working to identify areas that can be quickly rezoned to maximize their redevelopment potential, with a particular focus on Commercial Street. • Malden Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel spoke on a renewed commitment to equitable access to opportunity for all students, including all five K-8 schools’ participation in the Nature’s Classroom off-site program this year and the school department’s new communication platform, Parent Square, which delivers information to families in their native language. • Dr. Sippel described an overall Malden Public Schools “vision”: prioritizing high expectations, support for the district’s culturally diverse population and fair access for all. He noted strong collaboration between the district and city departments, including Public Facilities, whose personnel built the new Welcome Center for families at district headquarters at 110 Pleasant St. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
11 Publizr Home