TECHNOLOGY IN CARE
Retaining Independence
Mario Zuccaro, Chief Executive of Oysta Technology, advocates the inclusion of care technology within social care packages. Here, he discusses how it can enable significant care cost savings whilst vastly improving levels of support for vulnerable independent people (VIPs) within the home environment.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/facts-media
It is reported that there are currently over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. With a social care system unable to cope with demand, many vulnerable people are not receiving adequate help and support at home. This is causing a rise in the number of dementia patients being admitted to hospital via A&E units.
Official figures show that 1,000 dementia
patients a day are being admitted to hospital in crisis in the UK, at a cost to the NHS of around £280 million a year. Statistics also suggest that, on the ward, up to 1 in 4 hospital beds are occupied by people with dementia – and 20% of these admissions are due to preventable causes such as falls, dehydration and infections. In a time where the ratio between district care providers and people needing help is unbalanced, the question we need to be asking is- what solution is there to enable early intervention and prevent the spiral to crisis point, that so oſten leads to time in hospital or a move to a care home?
- 22 - The answer is technology.
Improving the ability to support people and their carers within their own homes, care technology can provide the means for that early intervention. Reducing care admission, technology designed to monitor and alert family and carers to risk, falls or irregularities in normal behaviour can help people with dementia to live well at home for longer, where appropriate.
Supporting people with the condition to improve quality of life, care technology provides assurance that, when help is needed, it will be provided. With a significant number of people in the UK holding down a job whilst caring for a vulnerable relative, care technology gives families and carers the support and peace of mind they need to be able to successfully juggle their caring role with that of their own day-to-day lives. Creating a network of support around the vulnerable individual, family members know that, during the times they are absent, should an incident occur, they will be alerted whilst help is co-ordinated and actioned.
A diagnosis of dementia should not mean that a person cannot choose to remain in their own home. We understand that
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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