Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Abstract

Demographic ageing in Europe leads to a growing incidence of age-related diseases, a growing demand for care and a real sustainability challenge for our social and health care systems. According to recent EU-funded research, informal carers across the EU provide over 80% of all care, with women providing approximately two thirds of care mainly as daughters (in law) and wives/partners. However, their role is poorly recognised, their needs underexplored, and they have little access to the formal services that are available. Social, psychological and educational interventions are among the best strategies for informal carers to manage the pressure of care. Some European governments have put in place various supports, mainly financial measures and in-kind services, to help informal carers compensate for their economic loss and to allow them to reconcile care and work. Nevertheless, these solutions seem to only partially cover their needs: for example, some 50 % of families caring for older relatives are not satisfied with the public services available for families. Evidence shows that informal carers and paid assistants have a wide range of social and care needs: psychological support; training and education; information, advice and counselling on caring; self-support; social participation with friends and peer groups; leisure activities; reconciliation of care and work; support in language and culture integration ; and protection of their rights. In response, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been recognised by European policy as proactive measure to be developed in Member States to help in supporting the carers so that care recipients can be cared for at home. ICT-based services for informal carers and paid assistants can be defined as a service provided by any private or public organisation that addresses some carers' and/or care recipients' needs through technological devices that are integrated or not in a wider intervention programme. Potential benefits of ICT tools on the quality of life of informal carers ICT Tools can support the social integration of carers, provide them with social, emotional and peer support, facilitate their participation in aspects of life outside the home and thus supporting carers' quality of life. ICT services for support and integration help the carers to maintain online contact with family and friends, to create online communities and to exchange information, advice and peer-support informally among themselves. The development of electronic networks of informal carers can be a very effective and low-cost way of spreading information on the support services available locally and nationally, and of exchanging ideas on good practice. Electronic networks can also help to alleviate the loneliness experienced by many informal carers, and encourage them to continue their valuable work. For example, a study in the United Kingdom showed that the 42 % of on-line carers said that the Internet helps them reduce their feeling of isolation. The vast majority of carers wish to maintain a professional life, not only because it gives them a source of income but also because it 50 % of families caring for older relatives are not satisfied with the public services available for families.