Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 14, Number 1 > Pp. 8-12

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brownsell, S. Articles by Hawley, M. S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

RESEARCH Original article

An evaluation of second and third generation telecare services in older people's housing

Simon Brownsell , Steven Blackburn and Mark S Hawley

Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Barnsley Hospital, Barnsley, UK

Correspondence: Dr S Brownsell, Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley S75 2EP, UK (Fax: +44 1226 208 159; Email: simon.brownsell{at}nhs.net)

In a controlled study of older people living in sheltered housing (retirement housing), 24 people provided with telecare were compared with a control group of 28 people. The intervention consisted of second generation telecare equipment, such as automatic flood or falls detectors, a third generation lifestyle reassurance system and an Internet café. After a 12-month monitoring period, there was no noticeable change in the fear of falling. There was no significant difference for eight of the nine SF-36 domains. However, the Social Functioning domain showed a significant difference (P = 0.049), with scores 8% higher in the intervention group, suggesting a beneficial effect of telecare. Positive trends were also evident in areas such as an increase in the length of time spent out of the home, improved feelings of safety during the day and night, and a reduction in the fear of crime. The Internet café was used by 25% of people for at least 20 min per week. The results suggest that second generation telecare systems and Internet facilities could be more widely used in service delivery, but that lifestyle reassurance requires further development.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?