More than 750,000 users could be reliant on outdated telecare technology by 2025
An estimated 18,750 specialist housing developments for older and vulnerable communities could still be without digital telecare and warden call services by 2025.
This is according to the new ‘Digital telecare: How ready are we for the digital switch?’ briefing paper, published by Appello, a UK technology-enabled care service (TECS) provider, and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN).
This briefing paper painted an alarming picture of how the sector is reacting to the requirement to upgrade services, with only an estimated quarter of housing developments adopting digital services by 2025.
The requirement to upgrade systems to digital has been driven largely by the ongoing digital upgrade of the UK telecoms network, with plans to decommission the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by 2025.
The move to telecom services being delivered via the broadband network, as opposed to the PSTN, impacts multiple industries. For the telecare industry, where emergency alarms enable vulnerable individuals to live safely and independently, the impact is seen with call failures, whereby up to 10 percent of analogue calls are failing whilst trying to connect to the operator within a monitoring centre. This can cause significant delays in a lifesaving response, Appello and Housing LIN warn.
A wakeup call for the sector, the paper considers what progress has been made so far and the challenges still faced to ensure essential telecare services are safe now and in the future.
It highlights that if demand from housing and social care providers was to increase, as the digital switchover date of 2025 approaches, the resources and capabilities within the sector from manufactures and installers through to the supply chain are currently not adequate to meet the potential demand, the paper suggests.
Tim Barclay, CEO at Appello, commented: “It is clear that the adoption of digital services has not been taking place at a fast enough rate in recent years and this needs to change to ensure those most vulnerable in our communities have appropriate services to enable independent living.
“Combined with navigating the uncertain global environment it means there are challenges ahead which will impact on the cost, choice, and delivery of telecare projects for those that continue to procrastinate.
“For those that have been forward thinking, they have already seen that a move to digital is not only about ensuring safe services but enabling the delivery of a wider technology strategy to support people living safely and improving their wellbeing.”
With an estimated 125 housing developments upgraded to digital every month, and just over three years until the proposed decommissioning of the PSTN in the UK, it is estimated that if the rate of upgrades was to continue at the same amount, 6,250 developments will have digital compatible services installed.
With approximately 25,000 developments in the UK, this is substantially below the target; only 25 percent of the requirement to ensure all users have a safe, reliable alarm system, the paper highlights.
Jeremy Porteus, CEO at the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), said: “The 2025 digital switchover is a significant moment in time for telecare services. Housing providers, both general and specialist including extra care housing, retirement living, or supported housing will need to be aware of the changes and how they can help their customers.
“It’s important that the sector explores product development in smart housing, telecare and digital technology that supports service improvement and therefore transforms the delivery of at home care and support services and does so quickly.”