Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Evaluation and value for money analysis of a new telecare service from a user perspective
- Authors:
- AP DAFYD Ellen G., ROBERTS Janet, DOUGHTY Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(3), September 2009, pp.43-49.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Many telecare services will in the future rely on service users to subsidise their existence through a charging policy. This will reduce the level of use, and hence the economic efficiency, unless services are shown to offer value for money. As part of a wide audit and evaluation of telecare provision in Gwynedd, service users were asked both about the value of the service to them and to their families. Twenty-five percent of active service users were selected. The responses showed that the service was perceived to be valuable to 95% of service users, but even more so to their families. Most thought that telecare played a valuable role in helping them to maintain their independence. This is consistent with results in other local authorities in England and Scotland, though it should be noted service users might exaggerate satisfaction with free services for fear they might be withdrawn if criticised. When asked about the financial value of the service, more than half felt that it was worth £4.50 per week or more without a dedicated response team. All were prepared to pay at least £3 per week, 25% up to £6 per week and approximately 8% up to £8 per week. The majority would not wish to pay extra for a response team. One conclusion was to recommend pooling of resources between health and social care authorities, which together with payments for service users, may produce a sustainable service.
The use of telecare and community equipment to improve joint working across health and social care
- Authors:
- DOUGHTY Kevin, STEELE Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(4), December 2009, pp.36-43.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Telecare is an assistive technology service that promotes the independence of vulnerable people in their own homes by adding monitoring, response, review and intervention elements to the support provided by carers and by items of community equipment including electronic tools. This article looks at the potential for extending its role, through integration of services involving telecare alarm services, primary care services and community equipment stores. It lists the emergency situations that may be managed using first generation telecare, and responses to example emergency situations, including the role of responders, noting that while good management of emergencies involves a rapid response coordinated by a monitoring or control centre, it is the way that an incident is reported and followed up that has most significance in terms of prevention. It uses the example of falls experienced by older people to demonstrate the relevance of actions to ensure timely interventions for prevention, and looks at community equipment stores and services and their aims, examples of stand-alone telecare equipment and staff training needs.