Telecare for people with dementia: evaluation of Renfrewshire project

Introduction: There is no good quality evidence on the cost-effectiveness of telecare for people with dementia. This is a concern to policy makers and practitioners seeking to understand the workability and cost-effectiveness of telecare for this group. To address this gap an evaluation was undertaken of services delivered by Renfrewshire Community Partnership to clients with dementia who are using, or have used, their Telecare Service for the period 2007 to 2012. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the evaluation was to measure the cost impact of providing telecare to people with dementia, together with a range of qualitative measures. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken. The quantitative analyses used admissions and lengths of stay in hospital and care home using resources and unit costs representative of those used by clients identified with dementia in the Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (CHP). Extensive sensitivity analyses were provided. The qualitative analyses assessed the Telecare Service for each of the following: • Safety; • Effectiveness; • Accessibility; • Acceptability; • Satisfaction. These aspects were explored in face-to-face meetings.