Jul 16, 2025
- Treat Telecare as a Public Service, Not a Premium Add-On
In Spain, telecare is seen as a fundamental right, not a luxury. It’s publicly funded, widely accessible, and delivered in partnership between governments and expert providers like Tunstall Healthcare.
🔑 Lesson: Make telecare a core part of social care policy—funded, regulated, and available to those who need it most.
- Invest in Proactive, Not Just Reactive, Support
Spanish telecare has moved beyond emergency buttons. It now uses predictive analytics, sensors, and behavioural data to spot early warning signs—such as increased risk of falls, cognitive decline, or social isolation.
🔑 Lesson: Shift from crisis response to early intervention and prevention. Use data to act before problems escalate.
- Design Services for Equity and Local Relevance
Regions like Barcelona, Murcia, and Castilla-La Mancha all deliver telecare differently—tailored to geography, demographics, and population needs. Yet they share national standards and digital infrastructure.
🔑 Lesson: Enable local flexibility within a national framework, ensuring services are both consistent and context-sensitive.
- Support the Whole Circle of Care
Murcia’s model includes services for family caregivers, not just users—offering training, emotional support, and even respite technologies.
🔑 Lesson: Don’t just care for the cared-for. Include caregivers as users of the system and part of the solution.
- Prioritise Inclusion and Digital Equity
Spanish regions actively work to include older adults, people with disabilities, and those at risk of digital exclusion. This includes simplified devices, user-friendly interfaces, and hybrid care options.
🔑 Lesson: Make technology accessible by design—not as an afterthought. Train users and co-design with marginalised groups.
- Integrate Health and Social Care Systems
Castilla-La Mancha and others are pushing for greater coordination between health and social services, recognising that real wellbeing isn’t defined by one department or funding stream.
🔑 Lesson: Tear down silos. Build shared digital records, integrated response teams, and unified care plans.
- Use Data and AI Responsibly
Barcelona leverages AI to detect subtle changes in behaviour patterns, helping prioritise care for those who need it most. But the tech is always person-centred and ethically grounded.
🔑 Lesson: Use AI to enhance—not replace—human care. Ensure privacy, transparency, and human oversight.
Why Spain’s Model Stands Out
Spain’s success lies in combining strong public leadership, digital transformation, and person-centred values. Each region customises the service, but the unifying thread is clear: telecare is there to enhance lives, not manage risk alone.
As other countries seek to scale ageing-in-place strategies, Spain offers a practical, proven, and people-first roadmap.
