Telecare solutions for elderly and disabled residents

Havering Council has approved a pilot scheme to help residents who receive homecare assistance remain independent and in their own homes.

The proposed 'telecare' pilots provides a range of electronic devices in older and vulnerable people's homes. These include alarm call systems to alert emergency services, sensors to detect if someone has taken a fall, detectors on doors and appliances to check if the gas has been left on, and aids to ensure timely consumption of medicines.

A government grant has been made available to all social services authorities to trial telecare schemes, following a white paper urging public services to work synergistically to prevent long hospital stays and moves to care homes. Havering Council has been allocated a grant of £131,899 for 2006/2007 and £216,442 for 2007/2008.

A multi agency steering group comprising representatives from the Council's Adult Social Services, Housing, and Supporting People teams, along with members of Havering Primary Care Trust and older people's groups, has been formed to oversee the programme. A show flat will be provided with open days to demonstrate the potential of the system to residents.

From January 2007, four pilot schemes will be set up to evaluate the different possibilities for telecare technology in the borough. The pilot schemes will test how older people living with long term conditions and disabilities, older residents who live alone, people with dementia, older people leaving hospital, and people who are at risk of falls can be helped to live independently.

Cllr Steven Kelly, Lead Member for Sustainable Communities said: "The Council is committed to promoting the health and dignity of the borough's older people. Telecare is an innovative idea that could help older and vulnerable people stay active and independent in their own homes for as along as possible.

"There is a range of telecare devices available to give older and disabled people the confidence to live at home safe in the knowledge that if something happens, help is not far away. I'm very excited about telecare and am eager to see how the project develops over the next two years".

Posted 21 September 2006