Telecare in Learning Disability services.

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Telecare in Learning Disability services.

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Who aRe We?

• Jess Tearle
• Occupational Therapist for 5 years
• Worked with individuals with learning
  disabilities for 12 years.
• Harriet Moseling
• Health Social Care Consultant, Tunstall
• Been working with Tunstall for 3yrs

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• Unobtrusive technology that manages risk and..
• Enables choice
• Supports independence safety
• Supports carers
• Provides constant reassurance

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What services are currently available?

• Assistive technology can be provided through
  Occupational Therapists following an assessment
  of needs.
• Careline services are available to individuals
  directly though Purbeck and Magna Carelines, but
  this would be self funding.
• Careline can also be provided via the
  Occupational therapy teams, but is means tested
  in regards to funding.

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Stand alone equipment

• When people live with a carer or their parents
  they may prefer to have sensors that link
  directly to them rather than a call centre.

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Stand alone equipment continued..........
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Linked equipment
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Linked equipment
Environmental Issues
Watch pendant
CARE ASSIST PAGER
LIFELINE CONNECT
Security concerns
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Linked equipment
Personal safety
Medication management
CARE ASSIST PAGER
Reminder
Falls
LIFELINE CONNECT
Epilepsy
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Linked equipment
Sensory impairment
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Other equipment

• There are also other pieces of equipment on the
  market that can help to keep people safe, while
  still increasing their independence.

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Case study
John and Anne are married and live in supported
housing. Referral received from Warden for a
Telecare assessment. Assessment completed by
Community OT. Provision to be made of
Temperature extreme sensor Flood detector Gas
detector Smoke detectors Carbon monoxide
detector Medication dispenser Outcomes
Facilitate safety and Independence in the
home Maintain S.Us happiness and
wellbeing Alleviates need for residential
placement Reduces additional package of care
required
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• Tehream is a single mum who cares for her 2 sons
  (7 12) who are severely autistic and profoundly
  deaf
• Tehream has not had a full nights sleep for ten
  years due to constantly worrying
• They are prone to leaving the house by the
  windows and doors and getting up during the night

• THE SOLUTION
• A telecare solution that allows Tehream to know
  as soon as an incident occurs, via a pager during
  the day and the under pillow vibrator at night.

• THE OUTCOME
• I have been able to get a good nights sleep for
  the first time in many years, as I no longer have
  to stay awake at night worrying about my sons
  activities. They would both be in foster care if
  it wasnt for telecare.

Case study kindly supplied by Wakefield
Metropolitan District Council
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• THE CHALLENGE
• Jane is 67 and has lived on a hospital ward or
  with different carers all her life because she
  has a learning disability and her family couldnt
  manager her care
• THE SOLUTION
• She received her first taste of independence by
  moving into her own flat kitted out with telecare
  on a housing with care scheme.

THE OUTCOME - I was very excited about having my
own home but a little anxious about people coming
to the front door. Telecare has enabled me to
build up my confidence and have my own place. For
the first time in my life I visit my sister on
the bus by myself and I even have a part time
job.
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Benefits of using Telecare in learning
disabilities

• Enables skill development
• Enable independent living
• Ensure privacy
• Reduce care package costs
• Create more flexible use of direct payments
• Increase self confidence for service users
• Preventing admission to residential care.

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Summary

• Telecare is not readily used by social workers
  within Dorset community services at this time.
• Pilot to make assistive technology more widely
  available to individuals with Learning
  disabilities.
• To promote independence for service users
• To reduce need for residential placement and
  empower more adult placement and shared lives
  opportunities
• To make supported living an affordable option and
  therefore ensuring the best choice and highest
  standard of care for individuals.

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How to request an assessment

• Referrals can be made Via the Access Team on
  01305 221016
• Or
• On your behalf by
• Occupational Therapists (NHS)
• Social workers (DCC and NHS)
• Voluntary agencies.

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THANK YOU FOR LISTENINGAny Questions?

• If you need any further information please
  contact us.
• Jess Tearle
• OT Dorset County Council
• Tel [phone]
• Email J.Tearle_at_dorsetcc.gov.uk
• Harriet Moseling
• Health Social Care Consultant Tunstall
• Tel [phone]
• Email Harriet.Moseling_at_Tunstall.co.uk

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Final thoughts

• If you treat people as a mob they will perform
  at the lowest common denominator. If you treat
  them as individuals they will surpass there own
  expectations
• Haratio Nelson a ships Admiral from the 1800s
  with a statement that remains poignant today.
• People have the capacity to learn and become
  independent in areas of their lives that are
  important to them. For people with learning
  disabilities past political and social influences
  have often meant low expectations of the
  individual resulting in a lack of opportunity to
  develop skills that would enable a greater degree
  of independence.
• Hurst et al (2009)
• People with learning disabilities can lead just
  as good a life. DOH (2001)