An interactive toolkit detailing results of research into how assistive technology can support the areas of most concern to directors of adult social services, including detailed practice examples. The toolkit explores the extent to which technology has been integral to integration in the context of the following four themes: high cost packages; learning disabilities; prevention and early intervention; and demand management. Programme examples include: Televida teleassistance service (Barcelona, Spain); Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s telecare model; Assisted Living Leeds; Gloucestershire County Council’s assistive technology for people with disabilities; and West Sussex County’s telecare services, to enable timely discharge from hospital, avoid hospital admissions, reduce domiciliary care or delay admission to a residential care home and referrals are accepted on this basis. Lessons learnt from the examples include: new services can take time to become part of a social care and health workers ‘unconscious’ toolkit; massive variation from one practitioner to another is a challenge to address; savings estimates can be too optimistic and do not take account of attrition; dedicated capacity for assistive technology when starting from a low baseline; there are pros and cons to charging for people with eligible needs which need to be carefully evaluated from the outset; capture the imagination of stakeholders and professionals, assuaging the fears and anxieties that personal care is being replaced by technology by telling real people stories with positive outcomes; and embrace the passion and commitment about the difference technology can make in empowering people.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An interactive toolkit detailing results of research into how assistive technology can support the areas of most concern to directors of adult social services, including detailed practice examples. The toolkit explores the extent to which technology has been integral to integration in the context of the following four themes: high cost packages; learning disabilities; prevention and early intervention; and demand management. Programme examples include: Televida teleassistance service (Barcelona, Spain); Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s telecare model; Assisted Living Leeds; Gloucestershire County Council’s assistive technology for people with disabilities; and West Sussex County’s telecare services, to enable timely discharge from hospital, avoid hospital admissions, reduce domiciliary care or delay admission to a residential care home and referrals are accepted on this basis. Lessons learnt from the examples include: new services can take time to become part of a social care and health workers ‘unconscious’ toolkit; massive variation from one practitioner to another is a challenge to address; savings estimates can be too optimistic and do not take account of attrition; dedicated capacity for assistive technology when starting from a low baseline; there are pros and cons to charging for people with eligible needs which need to be carefully evaluated from the outset; capture the imagination of stakeholders and professionals, assuaging the fears and anxieties that personal care is being replaced by technology by telling real people stories with positive outcomes; and embrace the passion and commitment about the difference technology can make in empowering people.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
assistive technology, telecare, telehealth, learning disabilities, prevention, early intervention, cost effectiveness, case studies, integrated care;
This tool identifies statistical neighbours – or similar areas – for adult social care delivery for older people and working age adults with learning disabilities. These are the two largest groups who receive adult social care. The comparable indicators include spending per head, quality of services and access to services. The tool provides a basis for comparing spending and outcomes between councils and helps directors of adult social services and local authority financial leads to find new opportunities for improving adult social care efficiency. It is for use by councils to assess their own performance, and to identify where different approaches in comparable local authorities may provide examples to learn from. It is not meant to be used to make judgements about the relative performance of councils in delivering adult social care services, nor can it provide answers as to what the ‘correct’ price is for care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This tool identifies statistical neighbours – or similar areas – for adult social care delivery for older people and working age adults with learning disabilities. These are the two largest groups who receive adult social care. The comparable indicators include spending per head, quality of services and access to services. The tool provides a basis for comparing spending and outcomes between councils and helps directors of adult social services and local authority financial leads to find new opportunities for improving adult social care efficiency. It is for use by councils to assess their own performance, and to identify where different approaches in comparable local authorities may provide examples to learn from. It is not meant to be used to make judgements about the relative performance of councils in delivering adult social care services, nor can it provide answers as to what the ‘correct’ price is for care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adult social care, older people, learning disabilities, local authorities, local government finance, resource allocation, comparative studies, cost effectiveness;