Last Updated on May 11, 2017
A new online public poll published by Carers UK, shows consumers are missing out on the benefits of technology to support care needs.
Though 7 in 10 of adults online across the UK use technology to help them manage their money (72%), shop (71%), for social networking (67%) and for communicating (66%), fewer than 3 in 10 (29%) people turn to technology when it comes to helping with health and care. Those aged 45 to 54, the age people are most likely to be a carer, and those over 55 were less likely than other age groups to use technology to support with care. Men were significantly less likely (25%) than women (33%) to use health and care technology.
The findings were consistent across generations with young and old, social media users and middle and working class respondents all reporting very low use of health and care technology.
Although regular use of the internet continues to rise steadily, according to the Office for National Statistics, with more than 8 in 10 of us going online daily, the numbers using technology to support with health and care remains stubbornly low. Similar research carried out by the Carers UK back in 2013 found the same proportion of people (30%) then were embracing health and care technology.
Other research by Carers UK shows that caring can have a significant impact on people’s lives, increasing worry and stress, increasing the likelihood of ill-health, reducing time with other family and friends and often placing a strain on people’s ability to juggle work and care. Evidence from carers who use technology shows that the right support can impact positively on carers’ lives and help to counteract some of the more challenging aspects of caring.
Heléna Herklots CBE, Chief Executive of Carers UK said, 'With more and more of us taking on caring responsibilities, it’s astounding there’s been no increase in the numbers embracing the support that health and care technology can bring. From keeping up with relatives on Skype, using a Sat Nav to get around, to selling our things on Ebay, we use technology in so many parts of our lives; so why not for care?
'We want everyone, whether they’re caring at the moment or not, to be better informed about the growing potential of technology to support them with a caring role – giving them peace of mind, enabling them and those they care for more choice and freedom and the ability to remain in work, stay in touch with friends or simply have an essential break to recharge. Simple phone apps and products that support carers’ wellbeing, reduce anxiety and help organise care, can make a big difference to coping or not as a carer.'
3 in 5 of us will take on an unpaid caring role for someone disabled, older or seriously ill. The new poll shows people are very unlikely to consider exploring technology as a source of support even if they did start to care for an ill or disabled loved one, with only 5% selecting technology as something they’d be most likely to turn to for support with caring.
Carers UK says the poll indicates a major barrier to using care technology is a lack of knowledge, advice and information rather than public resistance to using it. When the kinds of technology available were described to respondents, the proportion saying they would use it to help them if they were caring rose to 7 in 10 (69%) so long as it was affordable.
CMM interviewed Heléna Herklots CBE for last month's A View from the Top.