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Funding to support telecare projects announced

June 30, 2010

Five successful bids for support funding for specific telecare projects have been announced. The awards have been made from a fund comprising contributions from NHS East Midlands' mental health funds, our Regional Innovation Fund and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

Telecare usually involves putting assistive technology into people's homes to support them to remain living independently.

Details of the local projects can be found below:

Derby City Council: The project will provide a ‘Fast-track’ assessment and installation service of Telecare equipment to service users with dementia.  Project funding will support the purchase of dedicated staff as well as dementia-specific equipment. This will link in to the council’s existing Telecare team which provides a range of Telecare equipment and also an emergency response service.
Leicestershire County Council:  This project aims to facilitate adults with dementia, currently in receipt of community/ social care service, who do not have informal carers, to remain living at home independently. This should delay progress towards further care and reduce costly admission to residential care or other services.
Lincolnshire County Council:  This project is an innovative proposal to drive changes in the provision of housing, care and support for people with a learning disability. The two aspects to this proposal fit together and provide a clear pathway to achieving the maximum level of independence for the individual, giving the person choice and control. Specifically, it will encourage the use of new and established Telecare to support four young people who live in a low secure unit to step down institutional care by moving into a bungalow (within the grounds of the main site). The longer term  aim is to enable them to move to fully independent living.
Nottingham City Council:  The creative and flexible use of Telecare and other forms of assistive technology (AT) is supporting the needs and risks of people with a learning disability in Nottingham. The use of Telecare and AT will help enable the person with a learning disability to achieve what is important for them and to them. It will increase their chances of living with greater independence in the community and will enable service provision efficiencies to be delivered in respect of their care and health needs.
Rutland County Council:  The project will enable assessment of 150 people in warden-aided accommodation or who are supported by floating wardens. Tenants will then be provided with a range of appropriate telecare/telehealth equipment as a part of a joint prevention approach. An existing warden will be seconded into the role of Telecare co-ordinator who will assess tenants to identify potential individuals who would benefit from telecare applications to help meet a health or social care need or prevent future health or social care needs occurring.