BEDFORD — Lawrence County emergency officials are sounding the alarm over a growing trend that is stretching the county’s first responders to their limits: a massive volume of non-emergency “lift assist” calls.
During the Tuesday, January 13 commissioners meeting, Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer announced the formation of a new task force dedicated to finding solutions for the high volume of calls from residents who have fallen but are not injured and simply need help getting up.
Luchauer provided a staggering statistic to the commissioners, noting that approximately 80 percent of Central Dispatch calls currently involve lift assistance for elderly or disabled residents.
While these calls are often made by citizens in genuine need, they frequently tie up the county’s limited ambulance and fire resources, potentially delaying responses to life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks or car accidents.
“Recently, ambulance and emergency services responded to one residence four times in a single day,” Luchauer reported. “We don’t mind helping—we understand the need—but the county is not a home health service.”
The newly formed task force will explore ways to support the community without depleting emergency assets. The goal is to move from a reactive “911-first” model to a resource-based approach.
Key objectives of the task force include:
- Identifying “High Utilizers”: Working with individuals and families who call frequently to identify underlying safety issues in the home.
- Providing Resources: Connecting families with home health agencies, specialized lifting equipment, or fall-prevention programs.
- Educational Outreach: Helping families understand when to call 911 and what alternative private services are available for non-medical assistance.
A Statewide Trend
Lawrence County is not alone in this struggle. Several other Indiana communities, including Westfield and Franklin, have recently implemented ordinances to charge fees for non-emergency lift assists, particularly when they originate from residential care facilities that are expected to have their own staff and equipment to assist residents.
Director Luchauer emphasized that the county’s priority remains helping its most vulnerable citizens, but in a way that ensures an ambulance is always available when a true life-or-death crisis occurs.
