Palm Springs police to launch free wellness call program next month

The Palm Springs Police Department will launch PSPD Connect on Oct. 19, a free, voluntary program that provides regular wellness phone calls to older adults and other residents who live independently.

The program, formally the Community Wellness & Reassurance Program, is intended to help older adults, vulnerable individuals and others who may benefit from additional support stay safe and connected to their community, the department said in a news release Monday.

City Councilmember Grace Garner, Police Chief Kyle Stjerne and the Blue Zones Project are credited with championing the initiative. The department said it is meant to improve residents’ quality of life and address social isolation.

The department said the program combines police resources with the Blue Zones Project’s emphasis on well-being and social connection, adding a layer of support beyond traditional law enforcement. The effort is based on the idea that public safety includes building relationships and supporting vulnerable residents, not only responding to emergencies.

The department said PSPD Connect does not replace 911, emergency medical services, home health care or professional caregiving services.

Participants choose a contact schedule and receive scheduled calls from police personnel or citizen volunteers. The calls are also meant to offer conversation, connections to community resources and a closer relationship with the department.

If a scheduled call is missed, the department follows an established process to check on the participant. When appropriate, that can include notifying an emergency contact or initiating a welfare check.

The program is open to anyone who would benefit from regular contact, not just seniors. That includes older adults, people who live alone or have limited local support, and those who are homebound or socially isolated.

Participants are asked to tell PSPD Connect when they will be away, hospitalized, traveling or otherwise unavailable.

The department said the program is built around three guiding principles: safety, connection and community. It said regular contact is meant to give residents and their families peace of mind.

Family members, friends, neighbors and caregivers are encouraged to help identify residents who might benefit, and may refer or encourage them to take part. The program’s motto is “We care. We check in. You are not alone.”

Residents interested in enrolling, or in referring someone else, can call the department at 760-323-8116 or email pspdconnect@palmspringsca.gov.

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