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Careline marks 25 years of looking after Bolton folk
Our community alarm service for elderly and vulnerable people, Careline, has today celebrated 25 years of helping the town’s residents maintain their independence.
Careline, which has over 6,000 customers in Bolton, answered over 220,000 calls last year at our 24-hour control room in Bolton and our mobile response service attended over 5,000 emergencies.
Representatives from Bolton at Home and Bolton Council, which help to support the service, joined members of the Careline team for a small celebration event at its Prince Street offices to mark the milestone.
Kirsty Thorley, Careline manager, said: “In the last 25 years we’ve helped thousands of people live a more independent life in their own home. There’s been lots of changes in that time, not least to the technology.
“As well as basic telecare, our enhanced systems can now recognise if someone with dementia is missing from their home, as well as reminding people to take any medication they need.”
Jon Lord, our chief executive, added: “The Careline staff do a fantastic job, helping people in situations that can be frightening and distressing. It provides a vital safety net to residents and their families, and it’s no surprise that even today, in a world where people are more connected to each other than ever before, Careline is still such a popular service.”
Careline is open to everyone in Bolton regardless of their age and whether they own or rent their property.In fact, over half of Careline’s customers live in their own home.
Customers pay a small weekly, monthly or annual charge for the 24/7 service.
Not only does Careline assist older people, it also provides a vital service to people with disabilities or long-term illnesses, those experiencing domestic violence or people who need extra reassurance.
Customers have a small unit that connects to their phone which can be activated by a pendant that they wear. A microphone in the unit means that Careline staff can hear and also speak to the person using the system even if they can’t reach the home unit. Careline also provides a silent unit for those suffering from domestic abuse.
Careline staff can then assess the situation and respond in a number of ways, including sending a doctor, friend or relative or one of its mobile staff members. They can also contact the emergency services.
As well as the telecare service, Careline can also provide customers with a special lifting cushion which can help to assist someone to stand if they are uninjured and can bear their own weight.
Careline also installs and monitors enhanced telecare sensors which can send a signal that help is needed without the need to press a button. These sensors are useful to help people living with long term conditions, such as poor mobility and dementia, or helping people to perform everyday tasks such as reminding people to take their medication.
Pictured are Angela Newton and Simon Critchley, two of our Careline team, who've been with the service from the start.
For more information on Careline, click here.