The role of telecare in delivering better outcomes for older people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is there a clearer role for telecare in adult social care that will deliver better outcomes for older people?
IRAS ID
201670
Contact name
John Woolham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, days
Research summary
Telecare had become a key type of Local Authority (LA) adult social care department (ASCD)provision. In a context of continuing public sector austerity, many ASCDs have invested significantly in its development. Early evaluations of telecare invariably produced positive results and this led to the publication of Department of Health (DH)guidance in 2005 and funding to enable telecare services to be developed. At the same time, the DH commissioned a large Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to address concerns raised about the quality of evidence available about telecare's effectiveness. This trial, which became known as the Whole System Demonstrator Project (WSD)looked at the impact of telecare on people using it in three local authority sites. The (generalisable) findings, based on data collected using a robust, design, found no evidence that telecare led to better outcomes amongst those who used it.
These findings have not led to a reappraisal of the value of telecare in improving service outcomes. This present study aims to understand LA perspectives about what strategic aims telecare serves. Additionally, given that WSD evidence suggests that telecare does not produce better outcomes, it aims to explore reasons for continuing investment and if changes to the way it is used could improve outcomes. Finally, materials to support adaptive learning by commissioners will be developed to improve the use of evidence and support the successful use of telecare in operational settings.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0051
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion