28 March 2007

Low birth rates and a potential future shortage of carers could mean elderly people having to rely more on 'virtual' care, according to an expert speaking at an event organised by the British Computer Society (BCS). Around 50 forms of help - ranging from motion-activated lights to a fully-fledged robotic companion who could advise, interact and even entertain older people - could be the solution to the care burden predicted in years to come, Dr Kevin Doughty, deputy director of York University's Centre for Usable Home Technology told members of the BCS's specialist Northern health informatics group.

By 2025 the ratio of adults of working age to those of retirement age is expected to be just 2.5.

Dr Doughty, who ran a residential care home for six years, said: "With falling birth rates and an ageing population, the number of people able to look after the elderly is falling and will continue to fall. By using technology we will not only be able to support the elderly more efficiently, but they will be able to stay in their own homes and maintain a level of independence."

Such assistive technology could be as basic as automatic alerts to help elderly people detect dangerous situations, or a more complex 'tele-presence' system that enables them to virtually visit shops, friends or go to church. More radical solutions could involve hug suits that simulate physical contact, or perhaps computer generated friends, suggested Dr Doughty.

Benefits include fewer numbers of elderly people going into residential homes, as well as fewer hospital beds needed by older people, and fewer staff required to manage the patients in them. 

Dr Doughty concludes: "We only need to look to Japan to see what robots can do. There they have robots to dispense medicines, walk dogs and even carry a person to a bath.

"Investing in this area now will mean we will all benefit in the future."

Dr Tom Sharpe, chairman of the specialist group, says: "Although there are possible risks as well as benefits, we have a vested interest in seeing this work succeed as we all grow older. As members of the BCS it behoves us to come to grips with the issues now and promote appropriate use of telecare for everybody's benefit."

The full report of the meeting has been printed in this month's edition of the BCS's Health Informatics Now magazine.

Notes

• In the UK, the ratio of adults of working age of those of retirement age halved from eight in 1900, to four in 2000. 
• In Asia the ratio is likely to fall from six in the year 2000, to three in 2025. 
• Telecare projects in West Lothian, Northamptonshire, and elsewhere have shown significant long-term financial and human resource savings for care providers, whilst their clients have benefited from better care provision. Fewer hospital beds are blocked, unscheduled hospital admissions are reduced and the demand for residential nursing home places is eased by enabling people to cope better on their own at home. 
• The Government has also made available a Preventative Technology Grant of £80m over two years for Local Authorities to start a smart support service in England,  and the department of health is planning a large-scale, two year Integrated Care and Assistive Technology (ICAT) project to examine how technology can be used to keep patients with long-term conditions out of hospital.