Rosanne Brown (1), Jim Briggs (2)

Richard Curry (2)

(1) Portsmouth City Council(2) Centre for Health Care Modelling & Informatics, University of Portsmouth

Telecare in Portsmouth

What is telecare?

Technology that enables the

continuous, automatic and remote

monitoring of real time emergencies

as well as lifestyle changes over

time, in order to manage risks

associated with independent living

Who is telecare for? Useful for anyone that might be vulnerable:

• older and disabled people living alone• people on their own for long periods during the day• people with a history of falls• people with an on-going illness that may affect their

well-being, e.g. diabetes, heart conditions • people with dementia or confusion• people recently discharged from hospital concerned

about how they will cope

How does telecare work?• Systems tailored to individual need• Sensors placed around home• Sensors worn by user• Link to call centre via Home Hub and phone line • Prompts to remind user to do essential task,e.g. take

medication, or move away from door (for people who wander)

• Sensors can monitor: - the environment - extreme temp, gas, flood, smoke - the person - movements, inactivity, falls, blood pressure,

breathing, heart rhythms • Response generated according to individual protocols

LOGISTIC & INFORMATION PATHWAY OF A TELECARE SERVICE

Entry

(Re) Assessment of Need (SAP)

Care Package Development

Home survey

Telecare Prescriptionand a Response Protocol

Equipment Provision

Installation and

Maintenance

Monitoring

Call Handling

Community Response

Review

Telecare’s contribution to local community strategy

Health & Social Well-being Vision:

‘A Portsmouth that celebrates individual confidence and good health’

• Protecting older people from dangers in their own homes• Supporting older people and those with disabilities to

continue living at home

What’s happening in Portsmouth?

• Pilot project for falls management• Evaluation by University of Portsmouth • Telecare will be built on existing community alarm

platform, Initial Attendo• Current control centre is in Southampton• Plans to develop integrated, multi-agency control centre

in Portsmouth• Plans to develop demonstration Smart House for

potential users to try equipment, and for staff training

Portsmouth’s pilot project

• Falls management scheme for 20 users• Supporting people who have fallen or who fear falling• Members of Mountbatten Centre ‘Strength and Mobility

Group’• Already demonstrated motivation to participate in

managing their health and well-being• Anticipated outcomes of telecare provision - improved

confidence, maintenance of ‘fitness gain’ once group finished, reduction in falls

Why choose falls?

• Hip fracture related to falls costs NHS about £1.7bn per year in England

• Fear of falling leads to loss of confidence resulting in limitations on daily activities, with consequent increased dependency and disability

• Falls and their consequences, e.g., a long lie, are a major factor in public health and economic issue (10% acute hospital admission, high morbidity and high mortality)

• Telecare can make a major contribution to improving confidence and mobility, and management of risk, by assuring user of early response in the event of a fall

Evaluation

• By the Centre for Health Care Modelling and Informatics, University of Portsmouth

• Qualitative and quantitative evaluation• Collect data on costs and benefits, demonstrate

sustainability• Investigate contribution of technology to quality of life• Inform further development

Further Information

For details of local implementation

Rosanne Brown Dip COT

Telecare Co-ordinator

Portsmouth City Council

Tel: 023 92 688394

E-mail: rosanne.brown@portsmouthcc.gov.uk