Elspeth Briscoe, founder & CEO of Learning with Experts, explains the role in technology can play when it comes to informing any plans for social care.
The challenge of social care
As the government’s recent decision to delay planned reforms indicates, fixing the UK’s social care problem is no simple task. To truly address the funding gap that is placing a huge burden on our NHS and thousands of families across the UK, the need to think outside for a solution is becoming increasingly clear.
The extent of the challenge is undoubtedly huge: a LSE/Lancet report from May said spending must rise by £102 billion over the next decade to prop up the sector. In the aftermath of a costly pandemic, such a figure is even more unlikely to be met by the government. Tax raises may partially bridge the gap, but to fully fill the funding hole long term we need to tackle the root causes of the growing demand for social care.
We have an ageing population, but this does not mean rising demand for social care is its fixed consequence. If we are willing to zero in on preventing social care demand, rather than merely accepting it as an inevitability of an ageing nation, we can turn back the tide.
The obvious starting point is our routine confusion of the problems arising from a loss of physical and mental activity - which precipitate disease - with ageing. Because the effects of a loss of activity can be the same as a loss of ageing, we have assumed them both to be the same and inevitable. In reality they are neither, and we already have the tools ready at our disposal to tackle this damaging loss of activity.
The role of technology
My background is not in healthcare. Having held senior positions at eBay and Skype, I pivoted to the world of online education and in 2015 founded the social-learning provider Learning with Experts. It would be easy to think education and social care have little in common, but by looking for new solutions in unlikely places, we can tackle old problems.
That is why Learning with Experts are working with Professor Sir Muir Gray, the first Chief Knowledge Officer of the NHS, to bring about a digital social care revolution - one delivering interactive courses that educate people on the importance of maintaining physical and mental activity levels at all stages of life. In a short space of time, the courses have been selected for trial at several NHS trusts and adopted by Active Partnerships reaching 20 million people across the UK.
Key to our success has been a focus on harnessing the social benefits of the technology available to us, whilst still being aware of its unintended consequences. Since the pandemic began, we have seen the potential of online technology to do immense good, but also to accentuate a sense of isolation and a loss of community. Ironically, the technology adopted to prevent individual isolation has no doubt been a real contributor to the loss of activity we have witnessed amongst people of all ages. Clearly, technology must be utilised in a responsible way that ensures the cure is not equal to, or worse than, the disease.
As such, for technology to truly succeed in driving a digital revolution in social care, we must embrace our most basic human instincts in tandem. Humans work best in groups that foster a sense of belonging and shared experiences. By accepting this notion, instead of working against it, we can encourage people to motivate one another and embrace life-long learning centred around activity.
Embracing activity must start at the top - applying not only to patients, but also to practitioners; Educating doctors as to the merits of setting active tasks, instead of prescribing medicines as a first port of call, will prove equally important in achieving a widespread culture shift. If successful, a nationwide learning and activity program, delivered digitally to practitioners and patients alike, will ensure universal access to learning about activity and potential savings in the billions.
The next steps - medical technology
Finding innovative ways of harnessing the health benefits of everyday tech/medical devices will also be crucial in achieving these transformative goals.
The recent surge in popularity of wearable wrist devices, that allow users to track everything from their step count to their pulse, is having a demonstrable impact in encouraging individual activity and continual health improvements. For maximum benefit, however, an additional focus must be afforded to tech that helps to build active communities. Strava are ahead of the game in this respect, sporting an engaging app that allows users to compare and contrast their daily activity levels amongst their peers.
Encouraging the masses to unlock the full potential of their mobile phones for health purposes remains a priority. Already in the pockets of most younger people, smartphone use among over-75s has risen steadily in recent years, from 8% in 2015 to 18% in 2019. The industry would be well advised to harness this wave of digital transformation to target those who feel exercise tech and apps are inaccessible or not suited to their needs.
To its credit, the government has cottoned on to the need to motivate people to keep fit through digital incentives. DHSC's upcoming Health Incentives pilot scheme, led by Sir Keith Mills, will take a digital first approach to rewarding adults with vouchers, merchandise, discounts, and gift cards for making healthier choices.
The £6 million scheme is a positive, targeted start but further commitments to promoting the merits of activity must now follow if we are to bring about a digital social care revolution. Although proposals for further spending post-pandemic might make the Treasury wince, continuing to sleepwalk into a £102 billion abyss is a dangerous alternative that we can, and must, prevent.
