Flexible Homes, Flexible Care, Inflexible Organisations? The Role of Telecare in Supporting Independence

Abstract

Telecare' involves the use of information and communications technologies to provide support for vulnerable individuals living in the community. The UK government wishes to make telecare available in all homes that need it by 2010. This expansion is seen as central to the improvement of older people's independence and quality of life by enabling them to live at home whenever possible. The paper discusses the range of initiatives now in place to facilitate the introduction of telecare in the UK. It argues that while there is now experience of telecare through pilot and demonstration schemes, moving to mainstream service delivery is far from straightforward. Using a case study of a telecare scheme, along with supplementary data from other schemes, the paper explores the reasons why it may be hard to meet government objectives. These include the organisational and cultural characteristics of local care institutions and the complexity of scheme objectives. It draws conclusions on the challenges in meeting aspirations for mass telecare over the next decade and on the future role of the housing stock in care provision.

Older people, assistive technologies, and the barriers to adoption: A systematic review

“…However, enabling older people to remain independent by living in the circumstances they choose over their care pathway is a key principle of a forward looking health and social care policy [10]. The idea of Assistive Technologies (ATs) refers to an innovative concept that integrates technology within residences in order to maintain and even enhance functional health, security, safety and quality of life of their residents.…”

Telecare as Institutional Interaction: Checking up on the Client and Creating Continuity

“…First, positive findings are reported on the benefits of telecare regarding its financial impact on services: it is cost-effective and thus save resources, both timewise and economically (Barlow et al, 2005;Beale, Truman, Sanderson & Kruger, 2010;Mielonen, Ohinmaa, Moring & Isohanni, 2002).…”

“…One example of these developments is telecare which signifies the use of ICTs to provide support for vulnerable people living in the community (Barlow, Bayer & Curry, 2005). In other words, by remotely monitoring clients' needs for support, telecare aims to enable clients with different care needs to remain in their own homes (Eccles, 2010;Sorell & Draper, 2012).…”

“…Barlow et al, 2005;Eccles, 2010;Frennert, Forsberg & Östlund, 2013) and people with longterm somatic illness (e.g. Kubota et al, 2013;Zissman, Lejbkowicz & Miller, 2012) -thus leaving mental health clients and telecare-mediated situations less studied.…”

“…In the UK, there is even a move towards no less than a mainstream delivery of telecare (Barlow et al, 2005;Scottish Government, 2008, 6, p. 18-19). Telecare is gaining more importance also in the context of this study, i.e.…”