Tunstall Online - Case Study: 'Mobility'

Mr T - Well my problem really is lack of balance, I'm unable to stand and I'm in danger of falling over, that's the real problem. I've got what they call stenosis of the spine and I need an operation to put it right, but the real snag is that living on one's own, if I should fall over, I don't want people to find me three days later.
I'd seen people wearing these things and always thought they were for old people, I didn't really put myself quite in that category. Then a nurse friend if mine said you know you really ought to take more care, you dodder around a bit, why don't you get in touch with the people for one of these things around the neck, which I have done - I suppose it's five or six months now.
All you need to do is press that (personal radio trigger) and I have to tell any ladies who visit me they mustn't hug me too hard or else it will go off!
Lifeline were very good, they came out and fitted it the next day and it only really involves a telephone line. You plug it in with a switch - you know a power point and it's all done, they test it and it's pretty rapid.
I suppose if I'm honest I've always had a certain amount of confidence but really when you do start to sway around a bit you begin to think. I mean I have very nearly fallen over once or twice. It's nice to know on a winter's evening that if you should fall over... and probably more so than me is that my friends always say they're glad to see I've got it. That's quite a point actually; friends who say you'd be an idiot not to.

Friend - I was pleased that he took my advice and called Response Service. It's great that he feels reassured now and I feel better knowing that he has a means of calling for help if he needs it. I would recommend a lifeline to anyone who feels vulnerable, no matter what their circumstances.