“He was always in the park, every day, feeding the birds. But one day, he wasn’t there; and when he wasn’t there the next day, I thought something might be wrong. So I called the Gatekeeper Program. They found him sick in bed and got him the help he needed.”

The GBH Gatekeeper Program works with volunteers to help locate isolated older people in our communities who are at-risk with physical or mental health problems.

In our modern day society, families move great distances. With modern medicine, people are living longer lives. These two factors can often leave isolated, at-risk elders with no family or friends to act on their behalf or to keep in contact on a regular basis. When problems arise, they are alone.

The Genesis Gatekeeper Program helps identify those elders who need some assistance to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes.

Our Gatekeeper Volunteers

Gatekeepers are often employees of businesses and organizations who have contact with isolated elders. They may be:

• Meter readers,
• Postal workers or
• Newspaper deliverers.

Gatekeeper Training

Gatekeepers are trained to recognize signs and symptoms that may indicate an elder needs assistance. When they see these signs, they make one phone call to GBH Elder Services and then continue with their normal routine. Gatekeepers are not expected to provide services or to fill the role of social workers or counselors. They go about their daily activities with a watchful eye.