Switched on to Telecare: Increasing Independence and Dignity for Older People

摘要

Within the UK the target has been set that telecare should be available to all homes that need it by 2010. Furthermore, from April 2006 the UK Government has invested £80million to assist in implementation [3]. However, while many developed countries are investigating the role of telecare, smart homes and so on, each seems to be taking a different approach.rnDespite the significant potential afforded by telecare, Hjelm in 2005 suggested that large-scale trials have yet to be carried out for most telecare applications. Consequently, there is little quantitative information about the savings resulting from using telecare instead of traditional methods. There is therefore a real gap between policy, academic evidence, and service delivery. The UK government is seeking to bridge this gap by building up the evidence base, developing and testing innovative ways in stimulating the UK market and enabling users of services to make informed decisions on the potential of telecare to meet their health and care needs.rnThis paper outlines the drivers influencing the latest government policy and funding initiatives that has led the UK to become one of the leading health and social care economies in the world to be "Switched on to Telecare".