At the May 20 Coplay Town Watch meeting, Amy Angelo, training coordinator of the Diocese of Allentown, presented the Gatekeepers program to members and friends present.

Gatekeepers is a program that collectively connects seniors in need of appropriate services. It is also a community education effort to raise awareness about age-related concerns. The goal is to get seniors connected to helpful services that will allow them to remain in their homes.

The program is a cooperative effort of Lehigh and Northampton counties and Catholic Charities, with additional funding from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

In the program, gatekeepers are trained to identify the warning signs that a senior may be in need of help. General warning signs are a change in physical appearance, a change in mental status or emotional state, physical losses and deteriorating living conditions.

A gatekeeper may notice that a senior who formerly kept their property in good condition no longer does this. If a trained gatekeeper notices something of concern, an assistance referral for the senior can be made.

Gatekeepers can make an anonymous referral by calling Lehigh or Northampton County Area Agency on Aging. Each trained gatekeeper receives an ID number. A referral call can include the senior's name, phone number, address, information about a family member or friend who can help, a brief description of the situation and relaying the gatekeeper's ID number.

The referral process is analogous to a call Town Watch members would make when they see something or someone suspicious or have a concern or a potential safety problem in their neighborhood. As with a Town Watch call to authorities, after the referral, the gatekeeper's role is completed. There is no required intervention beyond the referral.

After the referral call is made, a safety contact by the Area Agency on Aging with the senior will be made within 72 hours. Referrals about potential abuse are followed up within 24 hours.

Angelo is looking for other groups to present the program and to train additional gatekeepers. She can be reached at 610-435-1541, ext. 302, or by email at aangelo@allentowndiocese.org.

In other Coplay Town Watch news, a successful 10th anniversary celebration of the Feral Cat Committee occurred at Sam Owens Restaurant recently.

The 21st annual children's bike derby will take place Saturday, June 13, 8:30-10:30 a.m., at St. Peter's Church grounds. This is for Coplay and Whitehall kids ages 2 to 13. It is sponsored by the Coplay Police Department, Coplay Town Watch, Salvage Transport Services and Petite Scholars Learning Center.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Town Watch group, call Kevin at 484-767-3094 or Bill 610-751-2745 or email keppel1976@gmail.com or billleiner@aol.com.