Beyond telecare ‐ the future of independent living Available to Purchase

This paper is an argument for a more holistic approach to independent living. Telecare and telehealth, as these services are being delivered in practice, risk increasing the isolation of vulnerable people. Though undesirable in its own right, this isolation often leads to depression, which in turn typically increases the costs of medical treatment substantially. The resultant lack of mental stimulation also creates the conditions for earlier onset of dementia. Finally, loss of identity exacerbates both depression and lack of stimulation. To overcome these problems, the technology should also be used to encourage users of telecare and telehealth to maintain and grow their engagement with wider society and to promote ‐ rather than restrict ‐ their mobility.