Questionnaire for Recipient of Care

Here in Birmingham, Solihull and Worcestershire Councils we’re asking a big question.  What is the role of technology in the homecare of our older citizens? 

It has the potential to allow our older citizens to stay in their homes for longer and live more independent lives.  It has the potential to take pressure off the ever growing group of unpaid, informal carers who look after loved ones.  It has the potential to take some of the financial burden off stretched councils which could, in turn,  improve conditions for those who work as professional carers.  This was elaborated very nicely by our colleague Julie Harrison from Birmingham City Council at the Local Digital Collaboration Unit at MHCLG.  Which you can see Here

A government scheme called the The Local Digital Fund has given us the opportunity to investigate this question.  We’re currently at the discovery stage, which involves asking those people who are involved in the care process how they feel about technology and what place they think it has in their lives.

Our partners at Aston University have produced questionnaires, one for people who receive some form of care in their own home (which you can find by clicking here) and one for those who provide care to someone on an informal, unpaid basis (which you can find by clicking  here).  If you’re involved in the homecare process we’d love to hear your opinions on this subject, (they’re completely anonymous too). 

The next stage will be looking at what technology is out there and where and how it could help.  Eventually, we could end up with a framework that will allow technology to be used effectively in the provision of homecare across the country, and if we’ve learned anything from our digital age, it’s that we don’t have to stop there; this can be an ongoing process that allows people to live evermore independent lives for longer.