50 percent of local authorities in Scotland have made plans to introduce assistive technologies – AT Today – Assistive Technology

The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government has published findings from FarrPoint’s new report on the National Telecare Landscape Review.

The National Telecare Landscape Review covers 32 local authorities in Scotland.

Commissioned by The Scottish Government, COSLA, and Digital Office, the study expands the view of Scotland’s telecare services by incorporating housing sector data for the first time, offering a more complete picture of telecare delivery across the country.

This comprehensive study delivers critical insights into the current state of telecare across Scotland and aims to provide a clear and detailed overview of telecare services across Scotland, capturing the processes, workforce, and data underpinning these vital services.

Data for the review was collected through detailed questionnaires sent to telecare service providers and in-depth interviews conducted between July and December 2023. This collaborative effort has been made possible thanks to the invaluable contributions of organisations and individuals across Scotland.

The study collected a large amount of data on telecare services and how they are delivered, noting that there are 141,918 telecare service users in Scotland.

Findings have revealed telecare service providers expect the amount of service users to increase by 10 percent over the next three years. Only one telecare provider currently uses assistive technology, while 50 percent of providers have made plans to introduce assistive technologies.

The figures below provide a summary of some of the key findings of the review.

A previous report from FarrPoint, commissioned by Department of Health and Social Care, highlighted the impact that the analogue switch-off will have on the telecare sector in England, including the key issues and risks associated with the ‘digital shift’ in relation to adult social care.