Market Drivers
There are several drivers for the recent large interest in Assistive and Telecare Technologies (ATT):
- In the future, the health care and social support services may not be able to meet the demand caused by the increased need for care required by a greater proportion of older people in society;
- Current UK health and social care modernisation policy will result in a shift in expenditure from spending on hospitals to spending on care closer to home and on preventative services;
- People's expectations for their quality of life and ability to participate in a wide range of activities are rising;
- People have more and more resources with which to purchase assistive devices.
Assistive and Telecare Technologies will play a vital role in delivering many aspects of health and social care and may provide the solution for healthcare provision in the future.
These changes lie behind a rapid expansion of the demand for assistive technology, rehabilitation products and supportive services. As noted in a recent DTI report, the Assistive Technology and Telecare (ATT) sector offers exciting, demand driven opportunities for UK technology over the coming decade.