Plum Consulting, London, T +44 (0)20 7047 1919, www.plumconsulting.co.uk

Using technology to improve the quality of life of older and disabled people

David Lewin

20/7/10

Plum 2010

The problems of an ageing population

• An ageing population across the EU means:• A near 50% increase in demand for social care of older people over the

next 20 years• Substantial (50 to 100%) increases in chronic medical conditions such as

diabetes, depression and dementia

• But where will such social and health care come from?• The population of potential informal carers will hardly change• The global economic crisis will heavily constrain state funding of care

• How can assisted living technologies (ALTs) help older and disabled people live longer and richer independent lives at home?

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Plum 2010

ALTs - the possibilities

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Vital signs sensors

Insulin pump Location services

Vital signs data

36 BTS

Professional carers: medical & social

Informal carers

Integrated care records

Wireless hub

Screen for augmented reality services (4)

Portable touchscreen withcamera (3)Safety

sensors (1)

Movement sensors (2)

Notes: (1) Examples include smoke, transportation, gas, food. (2) Examples include infrared, bed and body sensors. (3) Used to access the internet and make / receive video calls. (4) Use to provide prompts / guidance e.g. when preparing meals.

Tracking information

Broadband access

Services:• Entertainment • Social networking• Information• Shopping

Colin is diabetic and suffers from heart failure

Claire has dementia and is liable to fall

Plum 2010

ALTs - the need for digital participation services

• Telecare services:• Alarms• Lifestyle monitoring• Dementia tracking• Augmented reality

• Telehealth services:• Monitoring chronic conditions• Medication compliance• Vital signs outside the home

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Reduce the costs of care

• Digital participation services• Education• Entertainment• Connection with society

Vital to counter theisolating effects of

telecare and telehealth

Plum 2010

What are the barriers to take up?

• Technology is not the problem• Most technologies already here• Substantially lower costs of supply in future:

– Moore's Law effects– Move from specialist niche equipment to software on global mass

market devices• Device accessibility for older people with disabilities improving fast

• But there are major institutional barriers. In the UK:• No large-scale controlled trials to convince doctors• No expertise in the caring profession and no training courses• Financial incentives for introduction ALTs into state funded services weak• Lack of integrated health and social care - important with older people

• Digital exclusion is also a major barrier

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Digital exclusion of older people - the scale of the problem

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Now

829

87Now

2

8

80

Now

Now

3

76

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

15-24 25-54 55-74 75+

Mill

ions

Age group

Non-Internet Users in the EU15 in 2009 by age and education level reached

Tertiary

Upper secondary

Below upper secondary

X = No. of years to 90% Internet use

Source: Plum Consulting, OECD, Eurostat

Plum 2010

Why are older people digitally excluded?

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Barrier Comment

Internet not relevant Biggest barrier – especially for older people

Internet use too expensive Rising as pool of non-users shrinks and % of poorest people in this pool rises

Do not have digital literacy skills

Likely to reduce substantially given market developments

Lack of credit/debit card Inability to carry out e-transactions reduces value of Internet

Plum 2010

What can governments do to accelerate digital inclusion of older people?

• Only fund programs with rigorous ex-post evaluation of effectiveness

• Fund digital literacy courses based on tablets rather than PCs

• Develop universal service policies which lead to near universal availability of low-cost mobile broadband packages:• 20% of cost of fixed broadband for non-video users• Available to 99% of households at 1 Mbps+ with limited capex given UHF

spectrum and house aerials

• Provide subsidised access to fixed broadband for those requiring telecare and/or telehealth services

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Plum 2010

If you want to know more....

• Assisted living technologies for older and disabled people in 2030, Plum for Ofcom, 2010 • http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/technology-

research/research/sector-studies/assisted/

• Developing Government objectives for broadband, Plum for Vodafone, 2010• http://www.vodafone.com/start/misc/public_policy.html

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