Using Telecare as an option of keeping people out of Hospitals and Care Homes

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Project Title1

Aims of the Project2

Objective of the Study3

Research Question3

Brief review of the policy and research context4

Implementation / management issues to be explored5

Eligibility requirements and challenges7

Telehealth8

Methodological Design10

Research Design10

Data Collection11

Research Instrument and Participants12

Sampling Method and Sample Size12

Data Analysis12

Ethical Consideration12

Timetable or Programme of Study13

REFERENCES14

Using Telecare as an option of keeping people out of Hospitals and Care Homes

The Project Title

The aim of this research project is to examine the telecare as an option of keeping people out of hospitals and care home. Basicall telecare/telemedicine is the technology based replacement for the traditional care. It provides a relatively inexpensive solution that allows consumers to remain in their own homes while maintaining their independence. The telecare system basically consists of a monitoring device and a response system. The caregivers uses the monitoring system (for example a camera) to keep a check on the consumers' condition. For example, a two-way audio acts as a response system which allows the remote caregivers to communicate/interact with the consumer and provides them instructions. In case of an emergency the nearby team of caregivers is immediately dispatched to the consumer's home.

Basically the telecare is utilized to provide assisted living to the elderly and was recently piloted in the homes of adults with intellectual disabilities (Cho et al., 2006, 96). Telecare may be used to provide nursing assistance (or monitor) to consumers (e.g. diabetes) and to assist alcoholics. In the case of recovering consumers, for example individuals suffering from diabetes, sensors specific to the recovery or support needs of the consumer would be used, for example glucose meters.

Tele care is offering care of old and the less physically fit people with remote care by providing reassurance needed to enable them to continue living in their living homes. It is a technology of offering electronic monitoring via person centered technologies to ensure maximum care and support to individuals. In many countries telecare has been applied as a practice of offering health care services at a distance. The use of sensors is one part of the technology which helps in providing support for people who for example are suffering from illnesses like dementia or epilepsy (Hailey and Ohinmaa, 2004, 96).

The program of Telecare was launched in the month of august of 2006 in Scotland. It was designed to help older people, people with disabilities and people with mobility impairments to live in their homes for longer with safety and security through a development associated fund. In was intended to become an integrated part of the Scotland community care services according to (Barlow and Singh, 2004, 36). The use of this technology reduced the rate at which people were inappropriately admitted to hospitals especially due to falls and other related accidents in their homes. Investment and Interest in telecare have been growing steadily over the past five years with the technology now being as a control trial in England although it is not yet a ...