Carers UK Believes Telecare is Key to the Future of Social Care

6 September, 2007 – Carers UK is calling on the Government to make telecare technology an integral element of the National Carers Strategy, in order to provide better support and radically improve the lives of the UK’s six million carers.

The UK charity believes telecare has the potential to transform lives for the better – not only of the carers but also of the people they care for – by increasing independence, enhancing quality of life and enabling carers to take up employment.

Telecare technology consists of a range of sensors which monitor risks and environmental conditions around the home, automatically raising an alert to carers if assistance is required, ensuring help is always on hand if needed, but also empowering the carer with greater independence and freedom.

At today’s New Horizons Telecare Conference in London – organised by Carers UK - keynote speakers from the Department of Health and leading UK charities will outline how telecare can support families, promote employment and deliver tangible benefits for users and their carers.

Imelda Redmond, chief executive at Carers UK said: “We need creative and innovative solutions that fit carers’ lives, and telecare has the potential to do this. It’s a win-win situation - the user gets increased control and independence, and the carer benefits from more freedom and is able to make more choices about their life.”

To support the work it does across the UK, the charity has partnered with leading telecare provider Tunstall to produce a new guide Support for Carers: solutions for independent living, which offers support, practical advice and real-life examples of how telecare can deliver a significant improvement in the quality of life of carers and users, by providing a support network that promotes health, independence and well-being within the home.

James Buckley, CEO at Tunstall said: “In the UK, one in eight people currently provide support to relatives or friends with illnesses, long-term needs and learning or physical disabilities. Over the next 40 years the figure is likely to double, and with the lack of formal carers available, the pressure on relatives and friends to become carers is set to dramatically increase.  

Everyone can relate to the incredible contribution that carers make to our society. Carers today need support, and we believe telecare can go a long way to relieving stress and providing peace of mind, independence and dignity to carers, and those they care for.”

An example of the role telecare can have in supporting carers is that of Lucy, who cares for her mum Val, who has early onset dementia with rapid deterioration of memory.  Due to her memory problems, Val wasn’t taking her medication correctly, either forgetting to take it or, taking too much. Lucy was so concerned she started to hand deliver all Val’s medication, as well as taking her to the hospital on a weekly basis due to fluctuations in her condition.

Telecare has enabled Val and Lucy to manage these issues.  A medication dispenser, linked to a Lifeline home unit ensure Val takes the correct medication at the correct time, alerting Lucy and the monitoring centre if her tablets have not been taken.

This has not only given Val increased independence, it has also stabilised her condition and now she only needs monthly hospital visits.  It has given Lucy the freedom to go on holiday for the first time in many years, with the reassurance that her mum’s well-being is being effectively managed.

Lucy said: “It’s a big weight off my mind, knowing Mum will take her medication at the right time. If the system was taken away now, it would be very hard for us.”

To obtain a free copy of the Support for Carers: Solutions for independent Living guide or for more information on telecare, visit www.tunstall.co.uk/guides or contact us on 01977 660479.

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About Tunstall

Tunstall is the market leading provider of telecare and telehealth solutions, with over 2.5 million users globally. Tunstall’s solutions support older people and those with long-term needs, to live independently, by effectively managing their health and well-being. Tunstall provides technology, expertise and advice to millions of people enabling them to lead independent more fulfilling lives. For more information on how telecare and telehealth can improve quality of life, visit  www.tunstall.co.uk

Tunstall Contact

Emma Roper

01977 661234

e_roper@tunstall.co.uk

Press Contact

Context

Craig Coward or Luke Ford

01625 511966

Tunstall@contextpr.co.uk

About Carers UK

Carers UK is the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK continues to make a difference to carers' lives by: campaigning for a better deal for carers; informing carers of their rights and what help is available; training and advising professionals who work with carers; working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates. For more information, visit www.carersuk.org or for advice on your caring situation call CarersLine on T. 0808 808 7777.

Carers UK also leads Action for Carers and Employment (ACE) National; a development partnership funded by the European Social Fund’s under its EQUAL Community Initiative Programme, brings together statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies to raise awareness of the barriers facing carers who wish to work, and tests and promotes ways of supporting them. Visit www.acecarers.org.uk