Assistive technologies

image: Mrs A using assistive technology (Telehealth) Assistive technologies enable people with health and care needs, such as the frail elderly and those with Long Term Conditions (LTCs), to gain independence in their own homes.

The Government's White Paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" stated that it would set up a National Demonstrator Program to prove the benefits of assistive technologies.

LTCs have a significant impact on the health and social care economies. Therefore we need to look at new ways of working and using assistive technology to help deliver services.

Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) is the largest randomised control trial of its kind ever undertaken and the outcomes of WSD are expected in spring 2011.

Kent County Council, in partnership with both Eastern and Coastal Kent and West Kent PCT's, was chosen as one of only three local authorities in the country to be involved in this trial.

The trial

We expect that the outcomes of the trial will give a clearer idea and understanding of how new assistive technologies can:

promote people's long term health and independence and safety
improve quality of life for people and their carers
improve the working lives of health and social care professionals
improve integrated working between health and social care sectors
provide an evidence base for more cost effective and clinically effective ways of managing LTCs
inform future policy
determine how effectively the equipment works

Telecare and Telehealth are 2 types of assistive technologies that we have been piloting in Kent:

image: Telehealth equipment Telehealth
Equipment and devices used to remotely monitor aspects of a person’s health in their own home.

image: Telecare pendant Telecare
A combination of remotely monitored passive alarms, sensors, and other equipment and services to help people live independently.