TECHNOLOGY could be playing a part in the care of the elderly in the future.

A new pilot scheme has been launched to use video calling to aid people in need of short term care.

The 40 patients involved in the pilot will be given 4G Samsung Galaxy tablets to speak to their carers on Skype rather than having personal visits.

However, there are concerns that the study will leave patients lonely and unhappy. A study from Age UK said 35 per cent of people over 65 feel out of touch with modern life and nine per cent feel cut off from society.

However, John Spence, cabinet member for health and adult social care hopes the pilot will in fact help patients to be more independent.

He said: “It is important that we keep pace with new technology. I am pleased that Essex is trialling this system to have a positive impact on people’s lives. It will allow our vulnerable adults to live independently, providing them with something that is accessible from the comfort of their own homes.”

Essex County Council has rolled out the pilot study in conjunction with Essex Cares Limited, which will investigate whether the new video system will improve social care services in the county.

A secure video system will be tested in the homes of vulnerable adults to see if the council and Essex Cares can provide care when its services are stretched.

There will be two different systems that the pilot will use, called Breezie and SpeakSet.

Keir Lynch, chief executive of Essex Care, said: “We are delighted to be pioneering a new method of providing care and wellbeing across the county. We are also very proud that we can offer innovative methods of communication within the care sector, which will hopefully enable more people to live as independently as possible.”