1. What is Lifeline?
For over 20
years, Lifeline has been North America’s leading personal response service.
With the American Red Cross, we’ve helped over 4 million people just
like
you to continue to live independently in their own homes. We do this by
ensuring that you know whenever you need help, it’s just a button push away.
To call for help, you simply press the Personal Help Button you wear as a pendant or on a wristband. The Personal Help Button
you wear as a pendant or on a wristband. The Personal Help Button activates a small in-home communicator that automatically dials the Red Cross Lifeline Response Center. Within seconds, your call will be answered by one of our caring, highly trained operators called Personal Response Associates.
You will never be asked to talk to a machine. You might be calling to tell us you have a minor problem that only requires a neighbor or nearby relative to stop by—or you may need an ambulance.
Whatever you need, we will respond quickly. All your important information is immediately available to the Personal Response Associate answering your call, so the type of help you need is quickly determined—and we make sure you get it.
You MUST contact us at least once a month. Press your Personal Help Button just to say hello and let us know how you’re doing, and to make sure your Lifeline equipment is working properly.
Our communicators have a highly sensitive speakerphone that lets the Personal Response Associate speak to you, even if you can’t get to the phone.
And, if you press your Personal Help Button but cannot speak, your Personal Response Associate will quickly send help.2. How will I benefit from the Lifeline Personal Response Service?
Lifeline
offers you and your loved ones peace of mind, independence, early
intervention, and reassurance.
3. My independence is very important to me. Would I be giving that up by subscribing to Lifeline?
No. In fact, a recent clinical study proved that Lifeline users were 10 times less likely to need a long-term care facility like a nursing home than people who didn’t use the Lifeline service.
Lifeline
actually helps you preserve your independence
by giving you the confidence
to continue to live where you want to.
4. I’m fine on my own. Why would I want Lifeline?
Lifeline is
like insurance. You may never need it, but if you do you’ll be glad you have
it. It’s reassuring to know that if you have a sudden illness or injury,
help will be on the way in a matter of minutes even if you cannot move or
speak.
5. I already have all the help I need. My neighbor checks in with me every day.
Between your
neighbor’s visits you are left unprotected. You could fall and be unable to
get help. A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine
reported that people found within one hour of a fall are 5 times more likely
to survive that those who remained helpless for over 72 hours.
6. Who are the Personal Response Associates answering my call?
They are
deeply caring, highly trained professionals. Their only job is to answer
your call and ensure that you receive the attention you deserve and help you
need.
7. Is Lifeline complicated to use?
It’s simpler
than using a telephone. All you have to do is press your Personal Help
Button. The Communicator dials the Lifeline Response Center. Within seconds
you’re talking with a Personal Response Associate who immediately has all your important
information displayed on a screen.
8. Is there a lot of equipment involved?
No. There are just two pieces of equipment.
The Personal
Help Button weighs less than an ounce. You wear it either as a necklace or
around your wrist
like a watch. It’s completely waterproof (not just "water
resistant"), so you can wear it in the shower or bath where many accidents
occur. The button contains a tiny powerful battery that even sends a signal
to our Response Center when it gets low.
The Lifeline
Communicator is a sophisticated device that swiftly dials Lifeline’s
Response Center when you press the Button. Each Communicator has a built-in
speakerphone that connects the subscriber’s residence with trained personnel
at the Response Center. This allows the Lifeline Personal Response Associate to communicate with
you even if you cannot get to the phone. The Communicator simply plugs into
a standard modular phone jack and a power outlet.
9. Do I have to be in the same room as the Communicator for it to work?
No. You can be
in another room, on a different floor, or even outside in your yard—your
signal will still be received.
10. How does the Personal Response Associate follow up with the subscriber if the button is pressed?
Unlike other response services, Lifeline service has an important feature called "closed loop" that ensures help arrives at the home. When a responder is called by the Lifeline Personal Response Associate they are instructed to go to the subscriber’s home and press a button on the Lifeline Communicator. If for any reason the responder was unable to reach the home or failed to respond, the Communicator would send a second message to our Personal Response Associate staff indicating that help had not arrived. The Personal Response Associate staff then follows up with the subscriber and sends other responders if necessary.
When a responder does arrive, they press a button on the Lifeline Communicator that sends a signal to the Lifeline Personal Response Associate. The Personal Response Associate then contacts the subscriber’s home to see if additional assistance is needed. Oftentimes, the Lifeline Personal Response Associate assists by calling an ambulance, police, fire department, or relatives, if that is necessary.
