RHC: Holy Cross Hospital

Contact: John C. Johnson
Telephone: (954) 492-5796

The South Florida community is populated to a great extent by senior citizens. Retirement, warm weather and recreation are just some of the enticements it has to offer. However, as many seniors in to Broward County area continue to age, there is often little family support immediately available to respond to their emergent needs. Holy Cross Health Ministries continues its efforts to meet the needs of its community and demonstrate its commitment to the local community. The Ministries achieves its core values of community, stewardship, justice and reverence for each person by demonstrating its belief that each person is a manifestation of the sacredness of human life, its connectedness with each person through inclusive and compassionate relationships, strengthening its ministry and advocating for a society in which all can realize their full potential through the Lifeline personal response program.

The Lifeline program extends the mission of Holy Cross by providing a personal, caring connection to those who may live alone, elderly community members and those lacking assistance and support within their immediate living environment Lifeline services allow individuals to live in the comfort of their own home with confidence and freedom by providing someone standing by to help whenever it is needed – 25 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the press of a button worn as a pendant or as a wrist strap.

With Lifeline, loved ones can rest assured that their mother, father or individual family member is safe, secure and happy in their own living arrangement. Trained monitors assess the nature of each call received at Lifeline and dispatch the appropriate "responder" – usually a friend or relative, and in some cases, the police, fire department or ambulance. The program is committed to treating all persons with Christ like compassion, as they work to foster a spirit of unity.

Time Frame
1982 – Present

Holy Cross Health Ministries Lifeline program has been offering services to the South Florida community since 1982. Over the past years, approximately 6,000 clients in three counties have been provided this community extension service. As a result of Lifeline, over 2,000 responses to emergency calls have been made and assistance provided.

Financial Profile

Operating Budget: $557,000

Holy Cross Support: $557,000; $2,674,380 since 1991

Other Funding Sources: Independent, private donations

Outcome

Lifeline personal response program will provide the needy services addressing their emotional and spiritual needs, especially loneliness and loss of independence. Seniors will be educated on Lifeline services availability and affordability.

Supporting Data

Best Practice Narrative is limited to a one page summary.
Supporting data is limited to one page.