Poppy Calls - maintenance service

The Poppy Calls service aims to help give veterans and members of the ex-Service community the freedom to stay independent in their own homes. It is available in a number of counties and will be expanding nationally during 2009/10.

This scheme is designed to offer help with awkward jobs such as minor repairs, or fitting essential devices such as smoke detectors and care phones.

Poppy Calls is offered to beneficiaries who qualify for assistance under The Royal Charter, which includes those who have served in the Armed Forces and their widows or dependents.

Services are available in Birmingham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Leicestershire/Rutland, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, Yorkshire, Cardiff and South Wales with more areas being added.

Poppy Calls have a centralised call centre which handles all the fitter appointments and ensures a consistent standard of service across the country.

Contact them on 01480 478031.

Care Phones

As part of Poppy Support the Legion purchase Care Phones at a very competitive price and these are available for those beneficiaries who will benefit from it to improve their quality of life and make them safer. Our Poppy Calls fitters can install them

What is a Care Phone?

A Care Phone is designed to protect people living in their own homes. This system can be used to raise an alarm call from anywhere in the home by simply pressing the radio trigger or the large illuminated red button on the unit. Calls are received at the dedicated 24 hour response centre, where the appropriate action can be taken.

They can also provide additional peace of mind and reassurance by monitoring a wide range of events by the use of one hard wired and 12 radio sensor inputs. These could include detectors for carbon monoxide, falls, floods, temperature and smoke and can also provide 24 hour inactivity and intruder monitoring for a greater level of both personal and home reassurance.

How does it work?

When activated the call details are displayed on screen at the 24 hour response centre, showing the type of call and how the call was initiated. Due to the powerful loudspeaker and sensitive microphone, hands free two-way speech can be established between the user and the response centre operator.

People who may benefit from Care Phones are:

• Older, infirm or disabled people
• Individuals who have been discharged from hospital and require additional support and assistance at home
• People subject to domestic violence, racial harassment, repeat victimisation and distraction burglary
• Those living in high crime areas
• People of any age living alone
• Small businesses where individuals are at risk through the handling of valuable goods or money