Kelowna

A senior contact program is credited with possibly saving the life of a man in the Mission area of Kelowna.

The program, which has been operating for more than a dozen years in Kelowna, has volunteers working out of the Community Policing Offices contact seniors by phone six days a week.

On Friday, November 23, volunteers attempted to phone a man living alone.

"After the standard three attempts to contact the senior by telephone, a second volunteer attended the residence of the senior and found him on the ground and unable to move," says RCMP Constable Julie Rattee.

"The senior was transported to Kelowna General Hospital where he has been receiving care."

The man remains in hospital.

The contact program is for seniors who live alone, who have no regular care givers or relatives living in the area.

Volunteers call each person in the program once a day between 9 a.m. and noon Monday to Saturday.

"If there is no answer, the volunteers will attempt two more times within the hour and if there is still no answer, a contact person will be called upon to attend the residence."

About 50 seniors are registered in the program, nearly 40 of those out of the Mission Policing office.