Councils could save £730m through LTC technology

clock

Councils could save £730 million in long term care (LTC) costs if technology and remote monitoring-based solutions are deployed.

FACE assessment tools, accredited by the Department of Health and used throughout the UK and Ireland by NHS, social care and independent sector organisations found the time an elderly person can live in their own home, as opposed to requiring council-funded residential care can be extended, with savings of £3m to £7.8m for councils.

This equates to approximately 7.4% - 19.4% of their social care budget for older people.

The report looked at the costs of providing care services for people who needed care at home and those that needed residential care.

The research looked at health-monitoring solutions for the likes of falls, seizures and the taking of prescription drugs, as well as environmental monitoring for elderly people with dementia and similar conditions.

Environmental monitoring covers leaving the property during the night; changes in temperature extremes in the home; fire; flood; and other potential emergencies, such as carbon monoxide.

Simon Arnold, managing director of healthcare group Tunstall, which provides telehealthcare, commented: "Most elderly people want to live life as independently as possible, and in their own homes.

"Telecare provides a means of monitoring a person's environment unobtrusively, with wireless sensors placed around the home which raise the alarm if they detect a possible problem.

"A central home hub will automatically create an alert at a monitoring centre, where trained operators can then arrange an appropriate response."

On average, there are 38,500 people over the age of 65 in a council serving a typical population of 250,000. These councils have an estimated social care budget of £40m, with over £14m (35%) of this spent on residential care provision.

More on Long Term Care

NHS waiting list down, but behind targets

NHS waiting list down, but behind targets

List still above 7.5m patients

Cameron Roberts
clock 11 April 2024 • 1 min read
9.7m awaiting NHS treatment

9.7m awaiting NHS treatment

1.4m waiting for over a year

Cameron Roberts
clock 03 April 2024 • 1 min read
Partner Insight: Clients facing care home fees postcode lottery

Partner Insight: Clients facing care home fees postcode lottery

Adam Hillier, Head of Care Service Operations, Legal & General
clock 12 December 2023 • 3 min read

Highlights

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

"It takes longer than ever to get underwriting terms"

John Brazier
clock 12 October 2023 • 5 min read
Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

According to latest ReMark report

John Brazier
clock 11 October 2023 • 2 min read
ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

Women within executive teams have grown to 32%

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 October 2023 • 3 min read