Futuristic telecare could be key to lower care costs and more independent living
The number of over 65s is predicted to increase by more than three million people in the next fifteen years while the number of people suffering from conditions such as dementia is also expected to rise.
With £75million spent on Telecare during 2008/09, it is just one of the many topics being discussed during this year’s LGA/ADASS national children and adults conference in Harrogate from Wednesday.
Cllr David Rogers, chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Investing in services to keep people active should delay the onset of major health problems and postpone the time when intensive care and support is needed. This saves council taxpayers’ money in the long term at a time when the demand for adult care is rising and funding is falling.
“Later life should be as fulfilling, healthy and as active as a person wants it to be and telecare can help deliver round-the-clock support to users, ensuring timely and preventative care”.
A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Centre for Usable Home Technology at the University of York, shows that possible emerging technologies for councils include:
*Robopets that offer companionship whilst doubling up as fire, gas and flood alarms and as intruder detectors
*Clever coffee tables that can dispense medicines and give computerised reminders to people
*Kitchen worktop and fridge screens that monitor the larder contents, suggest recipes and produce automatic shopping lists
*Talking walking frames that remind people where they are going
*Worn exo-skeleton suits which help infirm people move around and climb stairs
*Smart beds that can help people to turn over and to get up, whilst alerting carers if they are unwell or need help
*Set-top boxes that can allow people to consult nurses, doctors, social workers or friends and relatives using 3-D video technology, surround-sound and virtual presence
Cllr David Rogers, continued:
“Councils are committed to providing the best possible level of care for all their residents and continuously look at ways of keeping costs down whilst still delivering first-class vital services to vulnerable people.
“Futuristic telecare technology could help make huge savings on care home bills and allow people to live independently for longer. It already provides extra support and peace of mind for relatives and carers.”
Examples of what councils are doing to provide the very best in telecare services available, include:
North Yorkshire County Council provides telecare services to 12,000 users. In this first year, the council calculates that it has saved more than £1m that would otherwise have been spent on domiciliary or residential care. Technology includes a high-quality watch which holds an alarm button to call for help; a property exit sensor for those who are prone to leaving their premises for extended periods at inappropriate times; and flood detectors that can be fitted in certain parts of the home, such as under a sink or in a bathroom.
Blackpool Council’s Vitaline service is one the country’s most advanced 24-hour monitoring and response centres and provides care, reassurance and protection to thousands of residents. Specialist equipment has been installed in homes to monitor vital signs such as blood pressure levels, weight, oxygen saturation and blood sugar monitoring.
The service has seen a 75% reduction in hospital admissions, 43% reduction in Community Matron visits and a 85% reduction in GP contacts.
Brighton and Hove City Council provides telecare services to 5,000 users and currently receives around 500 alarm calls per day. These include bed and chair occupancy detectors that, for example, set off an alarm if a client leaves their bed at night and does not return within a set amount of time. This is useful for people who are prone to falls. These could also be linked to a light that would automatically switch on when they leave their bed. Other services raise alerts if a door is left open, a person leaves the property or there is a flood.
