‘Tech’ to give people independence
Australia needs technology to help people live safely at home, regardless of age, disability, frailty or location says UK expert.
Older and vulnerable people can be helped to live safely and independently in their homes rather than go into aged care or hospital, with the use of telecare remotely into the home and via mobile phone applications.
Co-author Dr Kevin Doughty from the Centre for Usable Home Technologies, Universities of Newcastle & York, is in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from tomorrow to Saturday (2 November) advising government, services and consumers on how to use the new technology.
The cost to individuals and their carers needing help, and the cost of alternative residential care or emergency hospital admissions for Australia’s rapidly growing and ageing population, and for those with a disability or dementia needing care, or living in a remote or rural location cannot be met without the use of assistive and enabling technologies.
“Australia’s new National Disability Service and the aged care reforms which feature consumer directed care at home are the incentives needed to see the rapid roll out of technologies,” Dr Doughty says.
“But they will need to be delivered by a strong communications network, especially in rural and regional Australia, and there is no time for delay.
“Australia has so far lagged behind international technological development in the aged, health and disability sectors but can benefit now by adopting the latest technologies which offer services tailored to the individual needs of those needing care and their families, to make their lives easier and safer.
“Governments need to get on board as technology will help them to control costs while providing assistance to more people living in their homes around Australia, and reducing the cost of hospital and nursing home admission and readmissions through accidents, falls and chronic disease.”
Dr Doughty will speak at community home care, dementia care, retirement village, national disability, aged care conferences and workshops organised by Community Resourcing Worldwide and in association with COTA, consumer and carer workshops.
