It has been reported this week that a bed-blocking crisis could be on the horizon in Birmingham due to significant social care cuts in the city. Today Careline would like to explain how we could help Birmingham with our personal alarm system.
The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust is struggling to discharge older people from their hospitals and back into their homes. New figures show that the number of delayed discharges at the trust are now four times worse than the national average.
In the 12 months to November 2015 there were 10,151 delayed days, compared to 4,516 the previous year, a rise of 125%. On a national scale, there was a rise of 28%.
Potential reasons behind the problems are the reduced social care services available – including a lack of beds at residential homes – meaning that more patients are unable to be discharged promptly.
This week the Government confirmed dramatic cuts to funding in Birmingham, which will reportedly force Birmingham City Council to make savings of £258m – which could cause the issue of bed-blocking to become even worse.
Careline Personal Alarm
This is where we believe that Careline can help Birmingham. Our personal alarm systems are designed to try and give elderly and disabled people the confidence and peace of mind that they can be safe and comfortable in their homes.
The idea behind the personal alarm is that elderly residents can remain in their homes rather than having to go into residential care and, unless a medical emergency occurs, hospitals.
With the personal alarm system we believe that the demand for beds in care homes and hospitals could be cut – which could relieve some pressure on the system, especially in Birmingham.
The simplicity of the system and the comfortable nature of the pendant means that our customers are 100% satisfied with the product.
How it works
Our personal alarms are quick and easy to install by the user themselves and can be completed within five minutes. The alarm base unit just needs to be plugged in to the main telephone socket – with your original phone socket now going into the back of the unit.
The alarm comes with a stylish pendant, which can be worn either around your neck or your wrist. Simply choose the option you feel most comfortable with. The pendant is small and lightweight, with many of our customers choosing to wear them when they go out to the shops etc.
It is also waterproof so you can wear it in the shower and bath – a time wear the risk of a fall generally increases.
All you need to do if you suffer from a fall, or have any medical problem, is to press the big red button on the pendant. This will send an alert message to our 24/7 care team. They will then try and communicate with you over the base unit’s loudspeaker system.
After assessing the situation, the care team member will contact one of your emergency contacts (usually neighbours and family members) and the emergency services if they are required. You can select up to six emergency contacts when you have ordered your alarm.
The small pendant also has an excellent range of up to 100m so you don’t have to worry if you have any problems whilst you are out in the garden.
We also have a fall detector pendant available which automatically detects when you suffer from a fall in your home – there is no need to even press a button.
How to buy a Careline
There are two ways to purchase a personal alarm from Careline – either on our website or over the phone with a member of our friendly sales team on freephone 0800 101 3333.
You can purchase the standard pendant alarm system on two different price plans. These include the Yearly Plan which is available for £125, with the first three months free of charge – this works out at an astonishing £2.40 per week.
We also have a monthly plan, which is available for £13.80 per month. This is perfect for customers who don’t want to pay a large upfront fee. The Fall Detector pendant is only available on a yearly plan, which costs £195 per year.
All three packages also come with a one-off new customer payment of £40, which helps to cover the setup and administration costs.
A Careline personal alarm could really help elderly and disabled people in Birmingham to become more confident in themselves with the knowledge that if something bad was to happen, help would be just one click away.
* Please note, the prices shown are VAT exempt prices. The figures and information regarding the possible Birmingham bed-blocking crisis were taken from the Birmingham Mail newspaper.
Essential Plan
Basic pendant
- Not included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 100 Metre Range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
Plug-in Base Unit
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In, Easy Set Up
- Not included, No Phone Line Needed
- Not included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Plug-in Base Unit + Basic pendant
Basic pendant
- Not included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 100 Metre Range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
Plug-in Base Unit
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In, Easy Set Up
- Not included, No Phone Line Needed
- Not included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Rising to £22.67 per months after 3 months
Essential+Plan
Save £80 if paid annually
SmartTrigger Pendant
- Included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 600 metre range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
SmartLife Hub
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In, Easy Set Up
- Not included, No Phone Line Needed
- Included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Rapid Connect Hub + SmartTrigger Pendant
SmartTrigger Pendant
- Included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 600 metre range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
SmartLife Hub
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In, Easy Set Up
- Not included, No Phone Line Needed
- Included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Get 3 months free by paying annually
Complete Plan
RecommendedOur Safest AlarmSave £100 if paid annually
Fall Detector
- Included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 300 Metre Range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
SmartLife Hub
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In Anywhere, Easy Set Up
- Included, No Phone Line Needed
- Included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Recommended
Rapid Connect Hub + Fall Detector
Fall Detector
- Included, Automatic Fall Detection
- Included, 300 Metre Range
- Included, Wearable on Wrist or Neck
- Included, Waterproof
- Included, No Need to Charge
- Included, Easy to Activate
SmartLife Hub
- Included, 24/7 Monitoring Service
- Included, Lifetime Warranty
- Included, Plug-In Anywhere, Easy Set Up
- Included, No Phone Line Needed
- Included, Our Fastest Connection Time
Get 3 months free by paying annually
GPS Pendant Plan
Save £88 if paid annually
GPS Location Tracking + Inbuilt Speaker
- Included, Go Anywhere Alarm
- Included, GPS Alarm Pendant
- Included, GPS Location Tracking
- Included, Optional Fall Detection
- Included, Inbuilt Speaker
- Included, Charging Base Station
Get 3 months free by paying annually
GPS Pendant Plan
- Go Anywhere alarm
- GPS Alarm Pendant
- GPS Location Tracking
- Optional Fall Detection
- Inbuilt Speaker
- Charging Base Station
Get 3 months free by paying annually
