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Photo courtesy of Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Under the free "Are You OK?" program, NCSO Officer Cheryl Bambery calls Norfolk County's seniors who live alone, to check-in and ensure they are safe and well.
6-11-2025 12:32am
Westwood, Norwood, Quincy Seniors in Crisis Are “Saved” by Norfolk County Sheriff’s “Are You Ok” Program
Darlene Cancell
Editor
A 93-year old Westwood woman and a 72-year old Norwood woman were “saved,” after the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office initiated a public safety response under its “Are You Ok?” program when each woman failed to answer a check-in phone call from an officer on Friday, June 6, announced the sheriff’s office on Monday, three days after the incidents.
On June 6th, at 8:00 a.m., when the 93-year old Westwood woman failed to answer a series of check-in calls from the sheriff’s office, NCSO Officer Cheryl Bambery contacted Westwood Police to request that they respond to the woman’s home, says the sheriff’s office. According to NCSO, police arrived to find the woman without power, without air conditioning, and with her oxygen system shut off. She reportedly told police that she lost power the evening before, when temperatures in the area reached into the 90s. NCSO reports that police were able to help restore her power.
“This woman was very thankful that the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office had called Westwood police to check on her,” said Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott. “She told first responders that she did not know what to do when she lost power, because it also affected her ability to make a call for help,” he said.
A few hours later that same day, around 10:00 a.m., another local resident was assisted by NCSO’s “Are You Ok?” program. When Officer Bambery called a 72 year-old Norwood resident to check on her, the woman reportedly communicated to the officer that she was in crisis, and “not ok.” She hung up the phone. NCSO contacted Norwood Police, who went to the woman’s home. First responders took her to a local hospital.
Photo courtesy of Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Officer Cheryl Bambery contacted local police to assist "Are You OK?" clients who failed to answer their check-in phone calls.The above events in Westwood and Norwood were two of three emergencies that first responders handled through NCSO’s “Are You OK” program over the span of just a few days. The third event occurred in Quincy on Monday, June 9th, at 8:25 a.m., when a 78 year-old woman failed to answer the phone after several attempts to call her. Additionally, a family contact did not have knowledge of her aunt’s whereabouts. Officer Bambery requested that Quincy Police perform a wellness check. Quincy Police arrived and reportedly found the client on the floor, suffering from dehydration. It is unknown how long she had been in distress. She was taken to Milton Hospital.
The sheriff’s office also reports that the same Westwood resident from the first-described incident prompted NCSO to make another call to alert Westwood Police when she failed to pick up a check-in phone on Monday, June 9th. Upon contacting Westwood Police, Officer Bambery learned that the woman had called 911 for help earlier in the morning, and had been transported to the hospital.
The ”Are You OK?” program is a free service offered by NCSO to county residents who live alone who would like a phone call to check on their health and well-being. Norfolk County residents who are interested in the program can call 1-866-900-7865. More information about the program is available on the Norfolk County Sheriff’s website at https://norfolksheriff.com/divisions/senior/areyouok.
