A 91-year-old woman from Westlake, Ohio, has been found safe after missing a daily welfare check – she was simply trying to beat her high score in a video game.
The woman is enrolled in the city’s “Are You Okay?” programme, which offers vulnerable residents automated daily calls to ensure their well-being. When she failed to respond to her call on 9 April, her community became concerned.
Police were dispatched after her daughter and dispatchers were unable to reach her. Officers entered her garage using a code when she did not answer the door. Body camera footage shows her car in the garage, and audio captures an officer telling dispatch: “We’re with her now. She’s playing video games in her bedroom.” The game was a “bubble pop” game, similar to puzzle games that involve matching coloured bubbles.
Westlake Police Captain Jerry Vogel remarked: “Everyone got a good laugh out of it.” He added that the incident highlights the value of the alert programme, which also helped an elderly woman who had fallen in January. Studies, such as a 2024 Texas A&M University report, indicate that hobbies like puzzle games are linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults.
The programme serves as a lifeline for seniors, with a Forbes Health survey showing 86% of users or caregivers said a medical alert system had saved them or their loved one from an incident.
