Ryecare Lifeline service

What is Ryecare?

Ryecare Lifeline is a 24 hour support service that helps you to stay safe and independent in your own home.

Who is it for?

Anyone can sign up for Ryecare, but it is especially helpful if you:

• Live alone and need a bit of extra help
• Are unwell, or disabled
• Have recently left hospital and need extra help in your home
• Are at risk of domestic abuse, racial harassment or burglary
• Are often targeted by unwanted callers
• Live in an isolated, remote area and want some reassurance

How does Ryecare work?

We provide you with a Ryecare Lifeline Unit that connects to your telephone and to a call button that you wear around your neck or on your wrist. When you are in your home, you must wear the call button at all times.

When you need help, just press the button and you will be able to talk to someone at our control centre. The button has a 50m range from the Lifeline Unit, so you have access to help at all times, even if you can’t get to the phone.

The control centre operator will then contact somebody for you, like a family member, a friend of your choice, your doctor or the emergency services – depending on what help you need. 

If your family member or friend can’t come to help you, don’t worry. We can send one of our Ryecare team to help you.  In this case, there would be an additional charge of £50 per call out plus £25 per hour or part of an hour.

Our Ryecare Lifeline service is run by a specially-trained, caring local team. It operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so even when you are alone, emergency help is always available at the push of a button.

How much does it cost?

In addition to the original unit and pendant, you may choose to add extra equipment for additional reassurance. The options for these are below. The additional alarms and detectors will alert the control centre the moment they go off. This is in case you can’t get to the red button.

Smoke alarm

• Raises an instant alarm with our control centre if smoke is detected
• Cost £1.06 per week

Flood detector

• Provides an early warning by raising an alert of potential flood situations in the home
• Cost: £1.05 per week

Carbon monoxide detector

• Warns of dangerous carbon monoxide levels within a property allowing the appropriate action to be taken
• Cost: £1.62 per week

Fall detector

• Automatically detects a serious fall and raises an alert. It can also be used as a personal trigger
• Cost: £2.28 per week

Ryecare support packages

Save money by combining the Ryecare Lifeline service with other services with our quarterly packages.

• Ryecare Lifeline + smoke detector = £89.96 per quarter
• Ryecare Lifeline + falls detector = £105.82 per quarter
• Ryecare Lifeline + smoke and falls detector = £119.60 per quarter
• Ryecare Lifeline with two smoke detectors = £103.74 per quarter

Whichever package you choose, all of the charges are subject to VAT at 20% unless you are VAT exempt (VAT exempt includes people who are chronically sick or disabled).

How do I sign up Ryecare Lifeline service?

You may find it helpful to get in touch with us before you sign up to discuss the different options, which one is right for you, and the costs. You can call us on 01653 697737 or email us at Ryecare. There is no obligation, and we will never put you under pressure to sign up if you decide Ryecare is not for you.

Once you have decided on the support you need, you can make an application to set up your Ryecare Lifeline service. To do this you will need:

• Details of at least two emergency contacts such as next of kin, a neighbour or a friend. These will be contacted if an emergency occurs
• Your doctor’s name and address
• Any relevant medical information

When you are ready to apply:

• If you are unable to fill in the online form, you can telephone us instead on 01653 697737 and we will go through the form with you

What happens after I’ve applied?

When we have received your application form, a Community Team Officer will be in touch with you to discuss the service. They will help you to set up a Direct Debit for the quarterly payments and arrange a home visit to install the equipment you have requested.

Who to contact about Ryecare Lifeline

• If you have any queries about Ryecare Lifeline, you can call us on 01653 697737 or email us at Ryecare.
• If you need to cancel your existing Lifeline service, please let us know in writing. Write to: Ryecare Lifeline Service, Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Old Malton Road, Malton, YO17 7HH