Table 2.
Overview of the sample of the 12 selected ICT-based initiatives
| Name | Start year | Country | Articles/docs | Service description | Typology of technological service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID | I & L | PS & SI | CC | |||||
| Action | 1998 | Sweden | 20 | Older spouse carers can use Web-based training support, video phone links to a social care call centre, to communicate with network of families and practitioners | X | X | X | |
| Campus | 2004 | Italy | 3 | Set of online and DVD-based training material for informal carers to improve caring skills and life chances for families, carers and migrant care assistants | X | X | ||
| Caring for others | 2000 | Canada | 10 | 10 weekly group training sessions via internet video to high burden housebound carers, with follow-up video support group, and online information | X | X | ||
| Cuidadoras en red | 2008 | Spain | 2 | Training courses on ICT-based skills to improve access to information and social support, primarily for family carers and care assistants. Online community | X | X | ||
| E-care | 2005 | Italy | 9 | Care planning and coordination with multiple agencies, families and volunteers; provides call centres, telealarms, telehealth, video conferencing, online information, telefriending | X | X | X | X |
| Ippi + Amigo | 2004 | Sweden | 5 | TV-based communication system for older people to communicate with care services and family with call centre for relatives to update and coordinate care | X | X | X | X |
| Emergency alarm | 1994 | Hungary | 2 | Social alarm over GSM, with call centre staffed primarily by volunteers, facilitating home care | X | |||
| Just checking | 2003 | UK | 6 | Electronic Monitoring of movements of early-stage dementia sufferers living at home helps professionals and family better understand care needs, building trust, and facilitating independent living and home care | X | X | ||
| Platform for caring family members | 2006 | Austria | 2 | Information web site and hot line in two languages about caring, services etc. | X | |||
| Reach I/II | 1995, 2001 | USA | 4 | Integrated service supported by nurses, online, video and telephone including therapy, advice, a bulletin board and training which aims to reduce the burden and depression in family carers, to support carers of dementia sufferers | X | X | ||
| Sophia | 2005 | Germany | 2 | Multiple types of social alarm, and a call centre to support identification of older people’s needs, and provide phone-based social support to older people and carers from volunteers | X | |||
| Telecare scotland | 2006–2011 | UK | 11 | Social alarm and home care sensors to help local care services and family members care for older people in the community | X | X | X | |
Articles/docs: number of articles/documents reviewed. ID ICT for independent living. I & L ICT for information and learning. PS & SI ICT for personal support and social integration. CC ICT for care coordination