Telecare Aids Independent Living

Telecare saves councils millions in social care cost, a study has found.

09:42 04 June 2020

A recent research conducted by health economists and academic researchers in York and Barcelona has found that telecare helps councils save millions of pounds in social care costs and aiding independent living. It reveals how technology helps older people stay independent at home for longer enabling local authorities to redeploy millions in social care funding. 

 

The research, which was commissioned by telecare provider Tunstall Healthcare, was released as the social care sector looks for ways to save particularly during the current Covid-19 outbreak. It considers the benefits of proactive, reactive and personalised use of technology in supporting people while they stay home. 

 

Zilliah Moore, marketing director for the UK & Ireland at Tunstall, said: "Until now there has been lack of independent analysis on the impact telecare is having on health and social care systems - and this is the first time the socio-economic value has been studied in this way. It proves the benefits that can be realised and that when technology is deployed in a person-centred way, it can create a more sustainable and resilient health and care system." 

 

Health economist Nick Hex of the York Health Economics Consortium, who studied Lancashire's Telecare service, said: "We are now doing further analysis to find out whether telecare makes a difference in the use of NHS resources, for example, visits to A&E and admission and readmission to hospital."