You Are Not Alone operates Monday through Saturday and is sponsored by the San Diego Sheriff s Department. Newspapers piling up by the door and no garbage are signs that a resident might be in trouble. Meter readers and refuse collectors have been trained to recognize such warning signs and to follow up. Volunteers and local business groups provide minor home repairs for seniors and the disabled. Usually these repairs are related to health and safety, such as stopped-up plumbing, broken stairs and handrails, and broken locks.
Letter carriers watch mailboxes for signs of trouble.
If a mailbox is not emptied in two days, the carrier will knock on the door. If nobody answers, the letter carrier will phone Project CARE to check the residence. Recipients put information about their medical histories, medications, and other health-related conditions in the box in case medical assistance is necessary. This is a nationwide identification system that enables authorities to find, identify and safely return persons with dementia when they wander and become lost.