Consumers Energy Employee Receives Michigan Gatekeeper of the Year Award

Helped Muskegon Senior Citizen in Critical Need

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Jun 29, 2015, 06:00 ET

LANSING, Mich., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A Consumers Energy employee credited with taking action that provided lifesaving assistance to a Muskegon senior citizen in poor health was recently recognized with the Gatekeeper of the Year award from the state of Michigan.

The alert and prompt actions taken by Linda Falkowski, a field service representative at Consumers Energy's Norton Shores service center, resulted in providing a comprehensive scope of services to a Muskegon senior citizen who had significant needs.

"Linda embodies the kind of caring and compassionate attitude we all strive to have," said Amy Walt, executive director of customer operations for Consumers Energy. "It is further proof of her dedication to note this was just one of numerous referrals Linda has made throughout her career. Relatives of this senior citizen shared that Linda's actions provide much-needed assistance that could well have saved her life. We commend her efforts and attitude."

While visiting the customer's home to discuss an outstanding energy bill, Falkowski noted the individual came to the door in various states of dress and had blood oozing from a wound on her leg. The customer said she lived alone, and she seemed increasingly confused and had difficulty carrying on a conversation.

With the customer's permission, Falkowski submitted a Gatekeeper referral through Consumers Energy which was assigned to Senior Resources, part of Muskegon's Area Agency on Aging. Adult Protective Services was then contacted, and the customer is now in an assisted living facility where she is receiving excellent care.

The Gatekeeper program is made possible through a partnership that began with Consumers Energy and Michigan's Aging Network in 1987. In the past 28 years, Consumers Energy employees have referred more than 6,200 older adults to the Gatekeeper program.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

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LEARN MORE: More information about the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging is available at: www.michigan.gov/osa

Find out about senior protections available at Consumers Energy at:
www.ConsumersEnergy.com/seniors

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SOURCE Consumers Energy