1.5 Identify a range of settings that might benefit from the use of TEC

This guide will help you answer 1.5 Identify a range of settings that might benefit from the use of TEC.

Technology Enabled Care, often called TEC, refers to the use of technology to support and improve health, wellbeing and independence. This includes equipment, devices, apps and systems that assist people to live safely and support care providers to deliver effective services. TEC can be useful in many types of settings. It can help people at home, in residential care, in hospitals, in community settings, and even in workplaces where health support is part of the environment.

Different settings benefit in different ways depending on the needs of people using them and the type of technology chosen.

Domestic Settings

Domestic or home settings often gain significant value from TEC. People can use devices that keep them safe, monitor health, or maintain independence. Home-based TEC includes:

• Telecare alarms that raise alerts in emergencies
• Fall detectors worn on the wrist or as pendants
• GPS location devices for people at risk of wandering
• Automated medication dispensers
• Remote monitoring systems for health readings like blood pressure or glucose levels

These devices help people live in their own homes for longer, reduce risk and give reassurance to family and carers.

For example, older adults with mobility problems may use TEC that alerts carers if they fall. People with long-term conditions can use remote health monitoring to send readings directly to healthcare professionals without visiting a clinic.

Residential Care Settings

Residential care facilities, such as care homes for older people or supported living schemes for those with disabilities, make extensive use of TEC. Common applications include:

• Sensor-based monitoring of movement, reducing night-time safety risks
• Digital care planning systems to improve recordkeeping
• Communication systems that allow residents to contact staff easily
• Environmental control systems for lighting, heating and entertainment

By using TEC in residential settings, staff can quickly respond to problems, keep more accurate records, and support residents to live more comfortably. It can promote independence, even in communal living arrangements.

Hospitals and Clinical Settings

Hospitals and clinics benefit from TEC in a different way. The focus is often on clinical monitoring, patient safety and improving communication with patients and families. Examples include:

• Bed sensors to track patient movement, reducing falls in wards
• Remote patient monitoring for those who can be discharged early but still need observation
• Secure video links for specialist consultations without needing travel
• Electronic prescribing and medication tracking systems

These technologies help healthcare teams to work more efficiently and reduce hospital stays without compromising safety. They also reduce confusion around treatment plans and medication schedules.

Community Health Services

Community-based health services, such as district nursing, health visitor programmes or outreach mental health support, benefit from TEC by connecting people to services more effectively. This often includes:

• Mobile devices for staff, enabling secure access to patient records during visits
• Remote assessment tools for triaging cases before visiting
• Video consultations with service users who struggle to attend clinics
• Digital appointment reminders sent directly to patients

With these tools, staff can spend more time focusing on patient care rather than paperwork. Service users can receive quicker responses to changes in their health or circumstances.

Housing with Support Services

Special housing schemes, such as sheltered accommodation or extra care housing, combine independent living with onsite support. TEC can strengthen these services, with systems like:

• Door entry systems with video for added security
• Emergency call points in living spaces
• Smart environmental controls that adapt automatically to residents’ preferences
• Shared monitoring centres that respond to alerts from multiple flats or units

For residents, this means a balance between independence and knowing support is on hand. Housing providers can use TEC to monitor needs and plan services more effectively.

Educational Settings

In educational environments where there are students with health needs or disabilities, TEC can play a supportive role. Examples may include:

• Personal health monitoring devices for students with chronic conditions
• Hearing assistance systems for students with hearing loss
• Communication devices for students with speech difficulties
• Access to remote counselling and emotional wellbeing services

Schools and colleges can offer a safer, more inclusive environment when TEC is used appropriately. It allows for quick responses to incidents such as seizures and can improve participation for students with barriers to communication.

Workplace Settings

Some workplaces make use of TEC for employee wellbeing and safety, particularly in industries with higher risks or where staff may have health issues. Examples include:

• Lone worker alarms for staff in isolated roles
• Wearable health trackers in physically demanding jobs
• Onsite health kiosks for self-check of blood pressure or weight
• Mental health support apps accessible during breaks

Employers can offer support to maintain workforce health and reduce absences. TEC can be integrated into occupational health programmes to track trends and plan interventions.

Remote and Rural Settings

In remote or rural areas where health and care services are harder to reach, TEC can bridge the gap. Examples include:

• Telehealth video calls for medical assessments
• Portable diagnostic devices for use in community hubs
• Digital health records accessible by different care teams across long distances
• Satellite or wireless communication systems to connect locations without strong mobile signal

By using TEC, people in rural areas can get faster access to healthcare advice and maintain regular contact with professionals without travelling long distances.

Mental Health Settings

Services for people with mental health needs use TEC for therapy, crisis support and wellbeing monitoring. Examples include:

• Online therapy platforms offering secure, guided sessions
• Mood tracking apps that share results with clinicians
• Virtual reality programmes to aid exposure therapy or relaxation
• Video helplines that allow face-to-face access with support workers

TEC in these settings can help reduce isolation, track progress and provide rapid intervention during crises.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care Settings

In settings focused on end-of-life care, TEC can help keep patients comfortable and connected to family while supporting clinical interventions. Examples include:

• Video connections for remote family visits
• Pain management devices linked directly to healthcare teams
• Remote monitoring to reduce intrusive hospital visits
• Communication technologies for discussions about care plans

For these individuals, TEC offers dignity, comfort and more personalised support in a sensitive phase of life.

Rehabilitative Settings

TEC can support recovery and rehabilitation, whether following injury, surgery or illness. Rehabilitation units and physiotherapy services may use:

• Virtual exercise programmes tailored to injury recovery
• Motion sensors to track range of movement
• Telehealth physiotherapy sessions for people recovering at home
• Reminder apps for exercise or therapy schedules

Technology keeps people engaged with recovery activities and provides healthcare staff with data to track progress.

Emergency Response Settings

Emergency services can benefit from TEC that speeds up care delivery and decision-making. Examples include:

• Live video relay from incidents to hospital teams
• Portable diagnostics for rapid patient assessment
• GPS tracking of emergency vehicles to improve dispatch times
• Communication devices that link multiple agencies in real time

Using TEC in emergencies can improve survival rates and reduce delays in reaching patients.

Final Thoughts

Technology Enabled Care is flexible and adaptable to many settings. The focus is always to improve safety, support independence and make services more responsive.

Not all forms of TEC will suit every setting. Each environment will need to choose the right tools for its population and type of service. A care home might prioritise fall prevention, while a rural clinic might value remote diagnosis more highly.

The examples covered here show that TEC is not limited to traditional healthcare facilities. It can make a difference in homes, workplaces, education, community services and specialist support environments. The key is matching the technology to the needs of people in each setting. This approach ensures better outcomes, more efficient services, and greater confidence for those receiving care and support.