Integrated care for older people: Evaluation of Age Care Technologies (ACT) Assess & Connect™ tool during the Suffolk Pilot initiative

This evaluation report outlines the proof-of-concept assessment conducted by the Integrated Care Academy (ICA) on the Age Care Technologies (ACT) Assess & Connect™ tool during the Suffolk Pilot initiative. The ACT Assess & Connect™ tool comprises 56 questions aligned with World Health Organisation Integrated Care of Older People (ICOPE) domains, designed to offer a comprehensive evaluation of social and health aspects. The primary objective is to create a holistic health profile, pinpointing concerns and guiding referrals to local services. The pilot aimed to recruit 300 older individuals and caregivers from diverse Suffolk regions, utilising multiple assessments to monitor health changes over time. The ICA evaluation incorporated process mapping workshops with staff working with the tool, participant case studies, and analysis of tool-derived data, including directory mapping. A total of 383 initial and follow-up assessments were conducted among 223 participants aged 75-96 years. These were initially conducted through clinical Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and later via a National non-clinical telephone contact centre. Findings revealed disparities in health and well-being factors between distinct Suffolk communities, with the South Rural cohort exhibiting reduced social participation and a higher incidence of severe falls than urban and coastal areas. Despite generally positive self-ratings on health and independence, responses unveiled potential avenues for health improvement, notably in areas such as bodily pain, sleeping issues, bereavement, falls, financial assistance, foot problems, and loneliness. The evaluation confirmed the suitability, acceptability, and feasibility of the tool in Suffolk; however, recommendations highlight areas of change for future spread and scale phases. Tools like the ACT Assess & Connect™ hold promise in initiating targeted preventive measures, promoting prolonged independent living and fostering healthier communities for older individuals. Furthermore, the data gleaned from such tools could substantially contribute to evidence-based community asset development, enabling informed population health management strategies. Improvements made to the tool through this evaluation will aid national and international implementation to enhance the quality of life for older people around the world. This abstract was generated using evaluation report findings with the assistance of ChatGPT 3.5.