1. 18th October 2016
Connected care – personalised, coordinated and closer to home – the future?
Thanks for invite. Delighted to be here because I consider technology has a massive part to play in helping people living with dementia to live well and safely at home.
You will soon discover that I am no expert in technology, but we have a roomful of them….I want to come at the issue from the perspective of providers of homecare and the people they serve.
Bridget Warr CBE, Chief Executive, UKHCA

2. Introducing UKHCA
UKHCA is United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA) is the professional association of home care providers from the independent, voluntary, not-for-profit and statutory sectors. UKHCA promotes high standards of care and provides representation with national and regional policy-makers and regulators. The Association represents over two-thousand members across the United Kingdom, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

3. Our Vision and Mission
UKHCA’s Vision Our vision is of a United Kingdom where a choice of high quality, sustainable home-based care is available to everyone who would benefit. UKHCA’s Mission As a member-led professional association, our mission is to promote high quality, sustainable care services so that people can continue to live at home and in their local community.

4. What is homecare?
Support to live as full and independent a life as possible
Personal care
Other assistance
Can be by the hour or live-in
Paid for by the state or privately
Delivered by regulated service, self-employed or Personal Assistant
Support to live as full and independent a life as possible.
Personal care
Support with eating and drinking
Medication prompting
Other assistance
Help with correspondence/managing finances etc
Accompanying on trips
Housework
Companionship

5. Where are we now? c. 1 million people a year receive homecare
Over 70% is funded by the state
Some 1,200 people are delayed in hospital awaiting community support
c. 1 milion people receive support to live at home at any given time and many more could use it
70% is funded by the state; Payment almost universally low; even below the cost of delivery
On a sample day in May 2016 there were 1,217 people in hospital with a delayed discharge date awaiting homecare. This is a 55% increase compared to the same day in May (from our homecare and delayed discharges document)

6. We know People want to be at home until they die
People recover from illness/injury better at home
Government, NHS and LA policy recognises this
Care at home is usually cheaper
Care at home is cheaper than hospital care and usually cheaper than residential care

7. What’s the problem? Funding Recruitment and retention of staff
Complex business models
Growing demographic need
Increased complexity of support needs
Homecare providers exiting the market
Lack of effective collaboration
Brexit?
Lack of effective collaboration between disciplines and services.
If this is just about saving money, we are in the wrong place.
Must be more efficient, technology can help, but those time savings are to enable us to enhance the service.

8. What is needed? Creative solutions
That complement and enhance (not replace) personal contact.
Things that are simple to use
Things that are joined/joinable up 
Affordable and reliable

9. An introduction to people using homecare
Over 70 (or younger with learning or physical disabilities)
May be living with dementia
Likely to have several long term health conditions
May live alone
Not very mobile or dextrous; unsteady
Likely to be lonely
May have family/friends living at a distance
Loneliness is an increasing challenge and impacts on health and well-being.

10. An introduction to people delivering homecare
Predominantly women
Most work part-time
No formal qualifications required
Emotional intelligence
Two-thirds aged
On the move
Often rushed
High turnover
Mostly low-paid
CARING
85% women
Caring values essential
Even distribution of age
Anecdotally – more likely to have smart phone than a computer
Homecare organisation spend over 300m (UK) hours per year in people’s homes.
Build relationships and access and insight to people’s needs and preferences.

11. Where might technology help?
Helping the individual 
Making information accessible
Virtual healthcare
Helping informed choice
Monitoring and alarms
Alerting carers
Facilitating communication with friends and family
Daily living activity support
Maintaining independence and dignity

12. Cont.. Helping the business Information sharing
Enhancing collaboration and joined up services
Scheduling and invoicing
Automation and tracking
Record forming and keeping
Submitting bids
Training and recording development
Promotion  
Reporting and evidence of compliance/quality

13. So our challenge is.. Solutions must work for the individual
They should be readily understandable to non-techies
They should work together
They should enhance the person's life, independence, dignity

14. Questions for us all What more can technology do to help?
How should we all work together to make it happen?
How can affordable and understandable technology be developed?
What support will people need?
How do we plan to make this happen?
Joint service development?
Routes to market?
Influencing government policy?
It’s all about what people and what they want and need.
Freeing up resource to improve people’s experience and life.

15. How to contact me