STURBRIDGE, Mass. - The Sturbridge Police Department's dispatchers are spreading the word about the "RUOK" program to help make sure older adults in town are safe.

"RUOK" is a free daily telephone program where enrolled residents call the Sturbridge dispatchers every morning between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. If Sturbridge PD doesn’t get a call from someone by 9 a.m., dispatchers make a wellness check call to that person, and if they don’t answer, police officers are sent to their home to check on them.

The program, run by the police department, in conjunction with the Sturbridge Council on Aging, is aimed at ensuring the well-being of elderly seniors in town, many who are home-bound.

Lead dispatcher Barbara Boiteau said the program has become a great tool to build relationships with elderly residents and the daily calls have proven to be effective in making sure they’re OK.

"They do tend to have a lot of falls. And we've had a couple down in the past where we've gone to the door and that party was there overnight," Boiteau said. "And they probably would have been there much longer if they didn't have that program in place. I met a lot of seniors from the time I've been here, and it's just been wonderful to be able to get them to know the dispatchers are there. We do have a good community aspect to it and it's great just to be known and get to know people."

Boiteau said the Sturbridge dispatchers have built a rapport with elderly residents through the "RUOK" program, and added the dispatchers look forward to meeting residents face-to-face when they host community events.