Lifeline and Telecare (sometimes known as Careline) is a service that has been provided by Redbridge Council for 29 years and currently monitors more than 5,700 clients in private houses, council houses and sheltered accommodation from Croydon to North London to Southend.

Each Lifeline user is given a pendant which can be used to alert staff at a special centre to provide support around the clock.

Staff can have a one-to-one conversation with residents and act as a way of alerting the relevant service.

The basic criteria for having the lifeline are:

• A BT telephone line, or a telephone line supplied by a company that is compatible with a Lifeline community alarm. Please query this with the supplier for the address where the Lifeline is being installed, as some telephone suppliers will not work with Lifeline community alarms.

• A 13 amp electrical socket within six feet of the main telephone socket

• Two key holders that can get to the Lifeline customer's address within ten minutes. Alternatively one key holder and a key safe. Details of key safes are in the useful website links below.

• To arrange the installation of a lifeline please ring 0208 708 5897 at any time, we are here to help 24 hours a day – we never close

On average, installation time is 48 hours from date of enquiry, subject to receiving all the information about the client.