Evaluation and value for money analysis of a new telecare service from a user perspective

Abstract

Many telecare services will in the future rely on service users to subsidise their existence through a charging policy. This will reduce the level of uptake, and hence the economic efficiency, unless services are shown to offer value for money. As part of a wide audit and evaluation of telecare provision in Gwynedd, service users were asked both about the value of the service to them and to their families. The responses showed that the service was perceived to be valuable to the vast majority of services users, but even more so to their families. Most thought that telecare played a valuable role in helping them to maintain their independence. When asked about the financial value of the service, more than half felt that it was worth £4.50 per week or more without a dedicated response team. The majority would not wish to pay extra for a response team.