Help to care, support for people who care for others

Ferran Benito on 7 February 2024

Innovative mobile application created to support people who care for others

Help to Care can be downloaded for free and is designed to help caregivers find appropriate information when identifying health problems. The application is intended as a portable quick guide that can be accessed without an internet connection. It follows the standards of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

It includes guides, tips and videos on common illnesses such as diabetes, urinary tract infections and respiratory problems. It also offers a section that allows determining if a person is developing a serious health problem that requires medical assistance.

One of the purposes is to empower those who care for someone’s health, whether professionals or not, so they can make the best decisions in the care they provide. Additionally, it provides resources so that caregivers can detect and act on potential health problems, as their close contact with the individuals they care for allows them to perceive anomalous situations more quickly.

Characteristics of the innovation

Publications, Cross-cutting intervention, Integrated care, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Localization

Kent and Medway, England

Partners / Funders

National Health Service (NHS)

Genesis

The application is based on the informational leaflet Stop Look, designed by the NHS Brighton and the Hove CCG. Caregiver feedback served as the roadmap for the program’s development. The project began in July 2018 with an exploratory workshop. It was estimated that at that time, there were over 200,000 unpaid caregivers in Kent and Medway. During the development period, trials were conducted with caregivers, social services teams and public representatives. The pilot test was published in 2019, and further trials were conducted later to gather user feedback.

Level of implementation

The application has achieved its main objective: to create a tool for caregivers that provides them with adequate information to deliver quality care. In the initial weeks, interviews were conducted to measure the impact. These interviews showed that, thanks to Help to Care, interventions were made that prevented unnecessary treatments and hospital admissions. Additionally, it was also evidenced that the tool was useful for people with long-term conditions, as it increased their self-management. The results showed that the efficiency of the healthcare and social care system improved significantly thanks to the application. After the success of the pilot test, it was publicly launched on September 11, 2019.