Technology changes at an unforgiving pace, but in the application of telecare provision South Derbyshire District Council’s CareLine service constantly evolves to keep the pace - and meet the standards

The next stage in the ever-evolving life cycle of CareLine is the pilot launch of ‘Telehealthcare’. It represents the latest application of computer technology to a service first established by South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) way back in 1985. Ever since, it has evolved to utilise the latest offerings of the ever-burgeoning digital age.

The service pilot, an extension of the already formidable telecare offerings, will provide care thanks to a select range of technology applied in a person’s own home. This ‘robo-nurse’ - or even ‘robo-doctor’ - will enable the remote monitoring of people’s medical conditions and feed the data via computer straight to medical professionals. In that way, it will enable individuals to manage their conditions more effectively at home, improving their quality of life and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.

So, not only will it ease the burden on an often hard-pressed National Health Service, it will also ease some of the burdens of the people otherwise faced with the prospect of being dragged out of the comforts of their own home and into the local hospital. Thanks to the appliance of modern IT, it’s a saving grace all round.

“CareLine is quick to take advantage of advancements in technology to help improve the quality of life and personal safety to a broad range of clients, of all ages and with a variety of lifestyles,” said Steve Topham, CareLine team leader. “It is a shining example of what can be achieved when thought, professionalism and a united ambition to make a difference to the community all come together.”

Telecare is a growing field of technological application that reaches far beyond the earliest provision of alarm call systems. The ‘panic button’ systems, whereby a resident can push a button to call for assistance remains a core of such services, of course, but these are augmented by an increasing array of monitoring devices that can keep a benign eye on people in their own homes.

Monitors can range from fall detectors, flood detectors on baths and sinks, and so much more. These are connected via Internet or phone lines to a central call centre that receives data and contacts the relevant carer or health professional at need. The idea is to keep an eye on a person’s well-being day in day out, but maintain their privacy, so that they can continue to live in their own homes.

“Residents were just a push of a button away from a friendly professional operative who could offer the very best of help and assistance to vulnerable people,” Topham added. “CareLine had been launched in 1985 primarily to provide support services to the council’s sheltered housing residents, but the service has come a long way in the last two decades and has kept itself at the cutting edge of modern standards in technology.”

At the hub of the CareLine system is a call centre, based in Swadlincote, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on behalf of not just sheltered housing residents but also private residents. The team consists of a mix of community wardens, support officers and CareLine operatives.

Since 2006, the council, in partnership with Tunstall, has been upgrading its call handling equipment with the latest technology. It has also invested heavily to replace the call equipment in the sheltered housing schemes. The idea, as ever, is to provide residents with peace of mind in the comfort of their own home.

“The major change comes in the form of the fast-developing world of telecare solutions. Telecare provides a range of unobtrusive sensors and alerts to allow continuous, automatic and remote monitoring of emergencies and lifestyle changes in order to manage the risks associated with independent living in the home,” Topham explained.

“Any resident living in South Derbyshire who experiences problems living in their own home, feels vulnerable or is faced with certain medical problems can rent an individually tailored telecare package to provide assistance for them. It builds on the basic service on offer to sheltered housing residents and allows a comprehensive package of services to be available to private residents for the
first time.”

The CareLine scheme has become a leading provider of telecare services in Derbyshire. This has been recognised by its achieving parts one, two and three of the Telecare Standard Association’s (TSA) accreditation. This makes it one of the few agencies in the country to have been awarded all three parts in compliance with the TSA’s benchmark codes of practice.

The hub - or ‘brain’ - of the system is the Lifeline Connect+ that links together a wide range of sensors. These can include fall detectors, bed occupancy sensors, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide sensors, heat sensors, floor detectors, gas sensors, and even a key safe to secure a key for emergency access. “Telecare and its services helps to support an ageing population and provides reassurance to loved ones,” Topham said. “It brings together professional agencies to develop expertise and deliver the service that the people of South Derbyshire deserve. This commitment requires nothing less than to be the best and most caring service CareLine can offer.”