College of Occupational TherapistsCOTSS PLD Conference, 23-24 September 2010

Occupation matters

ICT services for People with Learning Disabilities

Edinburgh, September 2010

Chris AustinCollege of Occupational Therapists

chris.austin@cot.co.uk

Workshop overview

Optimise: Independence, safety, choice, participation in the community ...

•What are ICT services•Future possibilities•What can we do?

Information technology• Computers• Electronic devices ...

Communication technology• Networking / Internet• Mobile phones, mobile computing ...

ICT - Information and Communication Technologies

What are ICT services

• Electronic care records• Telecare services• Telehealth services• Mobile Health and Social Care

Electronic care records

• Record all information electronically• Records are structured and partially coded• Systems will exchange data / information• Support integrated care planning• Support emergency and unscheduled care• Enable audit, research and service

evaluation

Telecare services

‘... The continuous, automatic and remote monitoring of real time emergencies and life-style changes over time in order to manage the risks associated with independent living.’ Tunstall (2010)

Alarm units and sensors placed around the home - whereabouts, accidents and falls, epilepsy (in bed), flooding in bathroom, cooking, fires

CCTV in the home, outside the front door (Bogus callers)

Telehealth

Telehealth is ‘… the provision of health services at a distance using a range of digital technologies.’Scottish Centre for Telehealth - http://www.sct.scot.nhs.uk/

Mainly relevant to long term conditions – stroke, diabetes, COPD, paediatrics, mental health ...

•Videoconferencing: clinical decision support•Monitoring: blood pressure, pulse, weight, oxygen saturation

Mobile ‘Health & Social’ Care

• Mobile phone, laptop, PDA ...• Access to information (Records,

internet and databases)• Support for staff (Safety, changed

appointments, emergencies)

Future possibilities

• Office-lite, mobile office• Telecare as a mainstream commodity• Integrated shared care records• Optimise level of independence and

participation in the community• Routine outcomes measurement, audit,

research and evaluation.

What can we do?

• Networking and sharing• Innovation / invention• Piloting, auditing, publishing• Research• Education – students and staff

References

BECTA (2005) ‘Coming of age: Effective use of ICT for adults with severe learning disabilities’. http://www.becta.org.uk

Tunstall (2010) ‘Learning Disabilities: Solutions for independent living – key information for health and social care professionals and carers’. Tunstall Healthcare. Download from:http://www.tunstallhealth.com/assets/literature/Learning%20disabilities%20guide%2003.10.pdf

University of Stirling, Joint Improvement Team, The Dementia Services development Centre (2010) ‘Telecare and learning disability: Using telecare effectively in the support of people with learning disabilities’. University of Stirling. Download from:http://www.jitscotland.org.uk/downloads/1284108625-00260%20Telecare%20and%20learning%20disability.pdf