Tel-A-Tend is a lifesaver to some, a helping hand to others. The system is a computerized monitoring program that ensures a certain level of safety for the citizens of Sevierville and others living in Sevier County.
A project sponsored by the Sevierville Police Department and The Fort Sanders Community Health System, it has spread to help all those in the county with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department lending a hand.
The program provides such services as daily monitoring, reminders to take medications and raises an alarm if the person called does not answer or respond property.
The program has been used for “latchkey” kids who come home to a house where the parent has not yet returned from work, to seniors who are isolated or need a little extra monitoring.
With the program, a number can be programmed into a computer system housed at the Sevierville Police Department. At a certain time of day, or several times a day if need be, a phone call is made to the home. The person answering the phone must push a certain button to let everyone know that they are all right. For example, a person will receive a call with a recording that says, “Good morning, this is the Sevierville Police Department calling to make our daily check. If everything is OK, please press number #1 on the phone.”
If the Tel-A-Tend does not receive an answer or the proper response is not given, it automatically calls a secondary phone number of a relative, friend or neighbor. If there is no answer at the secondary number, Tel-A-Tend will then call 911 and notify the dispatcher that a police unit should be sent to the client’s residence to check on that individual.
“It’s been a great program,” stated Deputy Chief Steve Watson of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department. “We have done our best to get the word out about the program by going to senior events and various places. It has worked well.”
While Tell-A-Tend does not pretend to solve all the problems of the seniors or latchkey children, it can provide a higher level of safety and security, at little or no cost to the consumer.
The program was started with help from the Fort Sanders Health System who funded the program for around $5000. An additional $1100 is required annually for software maintenance and the cost of the phone lines.
Anyone who resides in Sevier County and has a need for the service can subscribe.
The cost is nothing. Originally the program was set up to charge $10 a year but to date they have not had to charge anyone for the service.
What the subscriber needs to sign up is simple, just a touch tone phone and touch tone services of your phone line and a friend, neighbor or relative who will agree to check on you in the event you cannot or do not answer the phone.
To sign up or for more information you can contact Chief Fox at 453-6271 or Captain Myers at the Sevierville Police Department at 453-7310.

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