Hello Katherine
We ask all residents to have a careline in place.
They pay for their landline and we pay for the careline units and support.
Wearing the pendant is up to the individual and although we encourage the residents to wear their pendant, not all of them do.
However, in an emergency, some have been able to press either the pendant or the button on the uint.
Our experience has been that no one ever thinks they are going to need it until a crisis proves otherwise..
I think there are many benefits in having it in place from the beginning of someone’s time in the almshouse.
Frailty is not the only reason someone may need to call for help.
Sometimes the most unlikely person suddenly falls ill and events such as heart attacks can come out of nowhere.
If it were left as an optional extra, I believe some would not avail themselves of the service – either because of the cost or because they think they will never need it.
In our setting of 20-25 residents, the service has proved itself on many occasions.
I should add that landlines will soon not be required for careline services to operate as more digital units are rolled out.
I hope this helps.
Avril
Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty