DHACA is currently working with Carers UK on a Department of Health contract to encourage the use of technology by carers, and Charles Lowe has asked for the expert opinion of our members to help shape this important review (see email below). Please use the comments section of this blog to submit your input or post any questions to Charles.
“I am writing to ask the advice from UKTHC members on their perspective on how best to support local authorities encouraging carers to use more technology to support them in their vital roles.
My reason for asking is that DHACA is now working with Carers UK on a small Dept of Health contract to encourage the use of technology by carers. The initial work was to scope out the types of technology that could help (see draft attached) DH Carers Technology Summary – draft. The next steps are for Carers UK to develop dissemination material aimed particularly at carers, whilst DHACA consults council and CCG people on how best to encourage their staff to promote technology to carers. Finally, Carers UK will be researching what carers want in the way of technology that is not already there and DHACA will be disseminating that to our members. In the next financial year we will then be doing our best to promote the use of technology by carers very widely.
We would hugely welcome your thoughts on the best way of promoting this material to local authorities so they in turn can encourage carers to use more technology. Unfortunately we are a bit stuck for time so if it’s possible for you to respond as soon as possible or perhaps we could talk on the phone +44 7860 619424 that would be greatly appreciated.”
Charles Lowe
Managing Director
Digital Health & Care Alliance (DHACA)
5 comments
Mark Baker
Hi Charles,
Apologies for not responding sooner. The main point I wanted to make is mentioned in your draft, but I feel it needs highlighting still further and that is that the Carers themselves are crucial in all this. It’s all very well having a wide variety of equipment to help support them in their role, but if they aren’t able to do that for any reason, things break down very quickly.
The technology provided must also be able to raise an alert should the Carer become incapacitated for any reason, as it is quite likely the person they are caring for won’t be able to. When you are told by a Carer who had spent a few hours on the floor following a trip, that their partner who had dementia had just thought it was funny and left them there, then you realise the risks involved. It is vital that in these situations the Carer has some means of communicating their situation.
On a different note, for remote Carers the likes of Canary and Here and There with their activity monitoring solutions, with associated alerts for unusual events are a great source of comfort, closing the miles between families by unobtrusively “keeping and eye” on people’s circumstances. They can become addictive to start with, but soon do their tasks in the background, helping to keep people safe.
Kieran McCausland
Hi Charles,
the key thing in my opinion/ experience is constant and consistent awareness and marketing –
Sadly the marketing efforts of local authorities does range from non existent to very good –
Marketing seems to have been one of the first victims of austerity , which is why Tynetec generated the independent for longer website for free embedded use by any HA/LAs as well as the little booklets we give free to the customers to leave in key places ie Dr surgeries, Hospitals etc .. we don’t ‘Tynetec brand’ the website or booklets as it was to promote telecare for the whole industry, although the devices are ours but they have no brand name on them.
People tend to only see certain things when there is a perceived need at the time , hence the requirement for a constant awareness / marketing strategy.
The marketing / awareness should be directed not only at carers but also at the clinicians, but that requires a different methodology / approach .
For example, one very successful method was were we worked with a local authority to visit clinicians in their environment eg hospitals , day care centres – we did multiple awareness sessions with OTs, Physios, mental Health teams , District nurses etc – This method, literally within a few months , generated leads from 2 a month to in excess of 50 a month from the clinicians.
Hope that helps
Kieran
Charles Lowe
Many thanks Kieran – was unaware of the Independent for Longer website so that is especially appreciated.
Charles
Karen Bradshaw
Hi Charles. An interesting area to look at. A couple of things I think are important to consider. As part of the Care Act each LA is required to offer information and Advice to their citizens and this is usually through websites. It would be good to have clear easy to access information about technology that can be helpful ( short videos, case studies and links to where someone can purchase the equipment).
Secondly LA are not reaching huge volumes of people and indeed only the people who are in need of advanced care needs and support. to really get this embraced by the nation it has to go through mainstream routes like press articles, adverts, editorials and word of mouth. I think we have to look at mainstream technical acceptance and how this attracts people. People only use technology when there is a need as well as desire, so we need to market this equipment as desirable.
Charles Lowe
Karen, many thanks indeed for that advice – it is greatly appreciated.
Would i be asking too much to ask you to encourage your colleagues to comment too?
Thank you again.
Charles
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