What are Assistive & Telecare Technologies?
Technology is being increasingly used to help people live a more independent and fulfilling life. Technology designed and sold for this purpose is what the ACT team consider to be Assistive and Telecare Technologies. The particular types of technology will be specific to the need and requirements of the individual. Some technology which may be suitable for some may not be suitable for others. This section will provide an overview of the types of technology and what they are used for:
Assistive Technology
Assistive technologies are products which help people to perform activities they were previously unable to do or had difficulty doing. These products also increase the ease and safety which particular tasks can be performed.
The term 'Assistive Technology' covers a large range of products, from simple aids, (such as spectacles, walking sticks, jar openers and tap turners) to the more sophisticated aids (such as communication devices, devices which control appliances around the home, powered wheelchairs).
Many people can benefit from the use of Assistive Technologies, including all ages and different levels of disabilities. There are products that can help people who have difficulties with:
- Mobility (moving around)
- Verbal communication
- Learning and other cognitive tasks
- Eating & drinking
- Transport
- Personal care (washing, bathing, toileting etc)
- Using computers
- Controlling appliances and other things around the home
Examples of Assistive Technology uses
More information on different types of Assistive Technology products
Telecare
The word 'telecare' literally means providing care from a distance. Use of telecommunications and computer based systems, health and social care services can now be delivered to the person in their own home.
A basic form of Telecare is the community alarm system. When an emergency occurs, such as someone falling over in their home, a person can call for help by pulling a pull cord or pressing a button on a pendant.
Many Telecare systems now include devices worn by the person or placed in the home to automatically detect emergency situations and send an alert call for help. For example, there are devices which detect smoke, floods, very high or low temperatures, a person falling or inactivity.
These types of products are beneficial when a person is unable to call for help by themselves. For example, a person may be unable to get up following a fall or could be unconscious. More advanced Telecare systems, known as Lifestyle Reassurance, use small devices in the home to monitor for changes in aspects of a person's lifestyle which may indicate a change in their health or care status. For example, an alert could be sent to a carer if the systems detects that the person has not been eating over a period of time.
The delivery of health care services to a person at home via telecommunications is known as Telehealth (It is sometimes called e-health or telemedicine). This includes devices which monitor vital health signs, such as blood pressure or body weight, on a daily basis. This information is automatically sent through the telephone line (at no cost to the person) to a health provider (nurse or GP) who can read those measurements from their desk at the surgery to routinely monitor the person's progress.
Examples of different uses of Telecare
More information on different types of Telecare products