To help people live independently at home for longer, the Smart Home team are working hard to implement technology in people’s homes that help them with everyday tasks. This can be anything from setting a reminder to take medication, put the bins out for collection to remembering to eat and stay hydrated.

Technology can benefit the people you care for or loved one

If you know someone that is suffering with dementia or just a little forgetful and would benefit from setting reminders, the Smart Home team can help recommend useful strategies or certain technologies that can help. With the help of the Smart Home team, they can:

  • create and enhance a tailored care package for the person you’re caring for or your loved one
  • identify the right device with appropriate adaptions to meet the needs of the person you care for or loved one
  • support people with hearing or sight impairments with visual and/or audio reminders

Technology

  • Your Minder – talking alarm clock with reminders
  • MemRabel 2 Dementia Clock
  • Smart phones/ tablets/laptops with adaptations
  • Smart speakers such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa show with a visual screen and loud audio available
  • My Home Helper – support system on a tablet www.myhomehelper.co.uk
  • GrandPad—a tablet for older people www.getgrandpad.co.uk

icon of a mobile phoneHelping people live independently at home the smart way

Annie Seath, Senior Care & Support Worker for Digital Technologies has told us:

Margaret has just been discharged after a long stay in hospital as a result of experiencing delirium and confusion, with memory impairment. As part of discharge planning we looked at where technology may support Margaret to go home and augment communication with family and the package of care. A discussion was had with practitioners and family and we decided to look at the benefits the Amazon Echo Show could offer. A home visit was arranged to go out and set up a device for the family to trial to see if this would be effective. This was set up for the family to use to drop in through video link, this is particularly helpful as the person receiving the call doesn’t need to do anything other than be in front of the device. This means meaningful communications can be facilitated with friends and family, importantly this has restrictions on it meaning only those you give permission to have the ability to drop into the home through video link. As part pf discharge planning it was thought that a 4 day package of care would be needed although after full consideration of Margaret’s needs we could reduce this to 3 day and use technology to give a prompt to have lunch. The morning carers prepare lunch and leave it in the fridge for Margaret who once has been given the prompt can go and retrieve her lunch and make a drink at the same time. This is increasing independence and supporting the package of care at the same time.  

Margarets family have said, “The Echo Show has been fabulous, I can see Mum sitting in her chair and this is peace of mind for me and the rest of the family.”

Margaret has said, “I like the Alexa,  my family just appear on the screen and I don’t have to do anything, I can also ask Alexa things like the time and to play music.”

After a trial period of the Echo Show the family have now purchased their own device. The Smart home helped with the loan of the devices and the set-up of their own purchased equipment.

Get in touch

Find out more to discuss where their service may be able to help the people you’re caring for.

Email: COTRS@edinburgh.gov.uk  / anne-marie.seath@edinburgh.gov.uk

Phone: 0131 443 3837 (answering Machine only, checked daily) or 07761330031