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ENLARGE
John Grady, manager of Lifeline, explains to Rose Bomediano, 77, of South Lake Tahoe, how to use the system. Linda Thompson, right, is the executive director of the Barton Hospital Foundation, which raised $6,500 to purchase the equipment.
Rose Bomediano is 77 years old and lives alone at the Tahoe Senior Plaza. She has arthritis in her legs and is prone to dizzy spells.
Last August she fell and broke two bones. She wasn't wearing her Lifeline necklace when she fell, but her son was visiting her at the time. He pressed the Lifeline button for her and the paramedics came right away.
Last August she fell and broke two bones. She wasn't wearing her Lifeline necklace when she fell, but her son was visiting her at the time. He pressed the Lifeline button for her and the paramedics came right away.
"If anything happens to me I have my necklace, the Lifeline, that's why I'm safe," Bomediano said. "I have peace of mind."
The Barton Foundation, a fund-raising branch of the hospital, recently spent $6,500 to purchase 24 upgraded Lifeline units. Lifeline is a national medical alarm service that can be activated with a button worn on the wrist or around the neck.
The Barton Foundation, a fund-raising branch of the hospital, recently spent $6,500 to purchase 24 upgraded Lifeline units. Lifeline is a national medical alarm service that can be activated with a button worn on the wrist or around the neck.
A small speaker is also involved. It gets placed in a central location within the home. Once the Lifeline button is activated, an operator at a response center in Citrus Heights will contact the person who needs help through the speaker. If there's no response, the operator will turn up the volume. If there is still no response, 911 is called.
If the person can communicate, the operator will ask if they need immediate medical attention or if they want someone on their responder list, such as a neighbor or a friend, to be contacted.
If the person can communicate, the operator will ask if they need immediate medical attention or if they want someone on their responder list, such as a neighbor or a friend, to be contacted.
"It works all the time," said John Grady, manager of the Lifeline program at Barton. "The main use is for people who fall down and can't get up. A lot of elderly folks think they don't need it, but family members plead with them saying, 'This is for our peace of mind.'"
Barton Memorial Hospital has run the Lifeline program at South Shore since 1998. Before that, the program was managed by volunteers at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center.
Barton Memorial Hospital has run the Lifeline program at South Shore since 1998. Before that, the program was managed by volunteers at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center.
