We set out five goals in Everyone’s Essex to improve health, care and wellbeing for those that need support. They are:
- healthy lifestyles
- promoting independence
- place-based working
- supporting carers
- levelling up health
The new Care Technology Service is one example of the impact of our goals.
It ensures people can live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, with digital support. This takes the pressure off carers while improving home environments.
Through the service, people are given digital devices based on their needs. This can include monitoring and communications equipment to enhance traditional care.
The Care Technology Service has helped over 9,500 residents live independently since starting in January 2024.
This includes D, an 80-year-old man with Parkinson’s and other medical conditions. D is susceptible to falls but determined to not lose his mobility or depend on his wife.
The Care Technology Service gave D a fall detector to help him raise an alarm. Now, his wife can go shopping safe in the knowledge her husband will be able call for help.
Ms P, aged 50, has various physical and mental health conditions she takes medication for. However, she has forgotten to take her medication multiple times.
She was therefore given a dispenser to automatically remind her. She no longer experiences low moods as often as she did.
Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and ICS Integration, said:
The Care Technology Service is nationally recognised and a shining example of how important technology and innovation is to our health and social care services. This has been and continues to be a top priority for Everyone’s Essex.
The service has exceeded expectations by helping nearly 10,000 residents live more independently in just a few months. It has attended 3,865 responses and helped 1,870 people who have fallen. This has saved the NHS almost £31 million by reducing the need for ambulance callouts and hospital stays.
1,625 care professionals, within and outside of the council, have now been trained to prescribe care technology across Essex. Our ambition is for every adult in receipt of adult social care to be able to access technology to support them to be as independent as possible.
You can now read our Everyone’s Essex pledge refreshed for 2024/25. It details five key priorities, including health and social care.
We will continue investing in people and technology to help the most vulnerable live as independently as possible.
