STAFF FROM HOMECALL, the telecare division of Coast and Country Housing, battled through the hazardous snow, in order to provide their life saving service to thousands of vulnerable people from across the Tees Valley region.

HomeCall’s trusty team of wardens are linked to elderly and vulnerable people through alarm pendants placed around their neck, which can be pushed to activate sensors that allow staff to hear, talk to, and assist the person in their home.

HomeCall’s services and contact centre, based in Dormanstown, Redcar, was inundated with calls during the bad weather from people who were struggling to deal with the difficult conditions.

It is often during severe weather conditions that HomeCall acts as an emergency lifeline to elderly and frail people, who can be dangerously affected and frightened by the plummeting temperatures.

Time is especially precious when someone trips and falls in their home and the cold temperature takes a grip.

Over 5,000 people from across the region are living independently in their own homes thanks to the HomeCall service, and can call upon the team of wardens and contact centre staff at any time, 365 days a year.

Staff battled the treacherous conditions to get into work and ensure that there was someone on the other end of the line as soon as the emergency alarm pendant was pushed.

Head of Tenancy Services, Jason Lowe, said: “Our staff know how important our HomeCall services are to thousands of people and have been absolute troopers in getting to work and dealing with the extra volume of calls during the bad weather.

“We will not let the snow affect our high levels of customer service and our teams have been working hard to ensure that they can get to people as quickly and as safely as possible.

“We provide a lifeline for people throughout the year, but it is in weather like this that people truly know the importance of having the HomeCall system in place.”