How digital technology has improved the care I draw on

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE is a Husband. Dad. Former carer. Black Disabled man. Associate Director, Think Local Act Personal (TLAP). He shares how technology has impacted the care he draws on.

When tech meets trust, support becomes stronger

Digital doesn’t have to mean distant. Technology, when used with care and confidence, doesn’t replace human connection it deepens it.

I’m a dad and a husband. I cared for my late mum. I’m a black disabled man who draws on care and support through direct payments, with the help of brilliant personal assistants (PAs). I’m also Associate Director at Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), where I work to make care more personal, equal, and rooted in what matters to people.

This blog shares real-life ways digital tools help me live, work, and care not because I’m tech-savvy, but because I’ve got the right support. And that’s the point.

Support should be personal. And digital should feel human.

Tech that helps me live, not just cope

Let’s be honest when you live with fluctuating health and complex medical conditions, digital tools stop being optional. They become essential.

But that doesn’t mean they should be impersonal. I use technology every day to communicate, plan, monitor my health, and pace my work and I do it with the support of my PAs. They’re not IT experts. But they’re willing to learn, adapt, and try. And that makes all the difference.

Take meetings, for example. I often can’t type for long. I get fatigued. But I still want to contribute.

Here’s what helps:

• Voice recorder (Olympus DM770): My PA helps record meetings and organises files for easy access.
• ai: One PA taught themselves to use this transcription tool now it’s part of how we plan, reflect, and stay organised.
• MindView mind-mapping software: I’ve got a licence and training lined up. My PA and I will use it to break down complex ideas when focus is tough.
• Dragon speech recognition: I’m starting five virtual training sessions to use my voice instead of typing. It’s not a shortcut it’s access.

This isn’t just about convenience. It’s about inclusion. Tools like these help me stay active in work and leadership not just manage my health.

Staying on top of my health

Technology also helps me and my PAs manage everyday health tasks, safely and with less stress.

We use simple tools and apps for:

• Blood pressure tracking so I can spot changes early
• Hydration and medication reminders
• Logging pain relief to avoid double-dosing
• Hayfever alerts to prevent flare-ups

These aren’t high-tech gadgets. They’re everyday apps used with intention. They give me control and help my PAs support me without guessing. It’s not about replacing medical advice it’s about being prepared and informed.

Tech that makes life and work more doable

Fatigue management is a big part of my day. Digital tools help me protect my energy and do what matters most.

• I’ve got a 32" curved monitor and an ergonomic chair on the way. My PA helped set it all up to reduce strain.
• I use a TickTime timer to work in short, focused bursts, with breaks to rest and recover.
• Soon I’ll be using a Jabra Evolve2 85 headset for online meetings a game-changer when your voice tires or background noise overwhelms.

For me, this isn’t just about comfort. It’s about being able to keep showing up at work, at home, in my community.

It’s not just the tech it’s the trust

The best tools in the world mean little without relationships that make them work. My PAs and I share medication apps, calendar reminders, shopping lists not because we love apps, but because they make our lives easier.

One of my PAs colour-coded a log for my medications. Now we both know what’s been taken, when. No second-guessing. No stress.

Before a recent holiday, another PA rang to check I’d packed my medication. That call gave me peace of mind someone thought ahead for me, before I had to ask.

That’s not about digital skill. That’s about care.

Digital confidence is a core skill in care

I’ve seen first-hand how digital confidence not expertise makes a difference.

That’s why I support Skills for Care’s digital workforce programmes. They’re not about turning care workers into tech whizzes. They’re about helping people feel confident enough to ask, “Could this help?”

Because when care workers feel trusted, trained, and supported, people like me benefit.

For care corkers, employers, and commissioners

Please don’t put tech in a separate box.
Digital tools are already part of care. The question is whether we’re using them to make life better or just to tick boxes.

Here’s where to start:

• Ask the person. What makes life easier for them? Let their answer lead.
• Start small. One shared app can shift stress into peace of mind.
• Support staff. Confidence doesn’t grow from pressure it grows from trust and time.

And if you’re commissioning or funding care?
Don’t stop at buying the kit.
Fund the relationships, training, and confidence people need to use it well.

Because tech without trust is just a tool.
But tech with care is transformation.

Final thought

So, has digital improved the care I draw on?

Yes. Unequivocally.

Not because of the gadgets.
Because of the people.
Because of the trust.
Because of shared effort.

Because care isn’t done to me it’s done with me.

That’s how I stay a dad.
Stay a husband.
Stay a leader.
Stay myself.

Call to action

If you’re a PA, care worker, employer, or commissioner don’t separate tech from care.

When we lead with values, and use digital tools with confidence and kindness, we don’t lose the human element.

We reveal it.

Find out more about how digital technology empowers care.

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