Plum Consulting, London, T +44 (0) , Using technology to improve the quality of life of older and disabled people David Lewin 20/7/10

Plum 2010 The problems of an ageing population An ageing population across the EU means: A near 50% increase in demand for social care of older people over the next 20 years Substantial (50 to 100%) increases in chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, depression and dementia But where will such social and health care come from? The population of potential informal carers will hardly change The global economic crisis will heavily constrain state funding of care How can assisted living technologies (ALTs) help older and disabled people live longer and richer independent lives at home? 2

Plum 2010 ALTs - the possibilities 3

Plum 2010 ALTs - the need for digital participation services Telecare services: Alarms Lifestyle monitoring Dementia tracking Augmented reality Telehealth services: Monitoring chronic conditions Medication compliance Vital signs outside the home 4 Reduce the costs of care Digital participation services Education Entertainment Connection with society Vital to counter the isolating effects of telecare and telehealth

Plum 2010 What are the barriers to take up? Technology is not the problem Most technologies already here Substantially lower costs of supply in future: –Moore's Law effects –Move from specialist niche equipment to software on global mass market devices Device accessibility for older people with disabilities improving fast But there are major institutional barriers. In the UK: No large-scale controlled trials to convince doctors No expertise in the caring profession and no training courses Financial incentives for introduction ALTs into state funded services weak Lack of integrated health and social care - important with older people Digital exclusion is also a major barrier 5

Plum 2010 Digital exclusion of older people - the scale of the problem 6

Plum 2010 Why are older people digitally excluded? 7 BarrierComment Internet not relevantBiggest barrier – especially for older people Internet use too expensiveRising as pool of non-users shrinks and % of poorest people in this pool rises Do not have digital literacy skills Likely to reduce substantially given market developments Lack of credit/debit cardInability to carry out e-transactions reduces value of Internet

Plum 2010 What can governments do to accelerate digital inclusion of older people? Only fund programs with rigorous ex-post evaluation of effectiveness Fund digital literacy courses based on tablets rather than PCs Develop universal service policies which lead to near universal availability of low-cost mobile broadband packages: 20% of cost of fixed broadband for non-video users Available to 99% of households at 1 Mbps+ with limited capex given UHF spectrum and house aerials Provide subsidised access to fixed broadband for those requiring telecare and/or telehealth services 8

Plum 2010 If you want to know more.... Assisted living technologies for older and disabled people in 2030, Plum for Ofcom, research/research/sector-studies/assisted/ Developing Government objectives for broadband, Plum for Vodafone,