Residents at a Scarborough care home are among the first in the country to have their homes fitted with a suite of smart technology designed to make independent living easier, thanks to a trial from BT and one of the country’s biggest housing associations.

A pilot scheme launched by BT and Home Group, has seen the apartments of 12 residents at Scarborough’s Webb Ellis Court site, equipped with a range of smart sensors providing data on activities to provide improved safety support. These sensors are linked to electrical appliances like TVs, kettles and fridges using smart plugs, as well as fitted to key access points across homes including doors. Each time a resident uses a linked appliance, a log is created which can then be used by care staff to detect unusual usage or patterns in behaviour in real-time.

The data collected from the sensors will be used to help map the routines of residents and automatically identify changes which could indicate illness or injury and allow for carers to make early interventions to allow residents to live more comfortably and remain independent for longer. The data will also be fed to a specialised app so loved ones and authorised carers have direct access to this information at any time. This early intervention could help prevent health issues escalating which could ease pressure on key services like the NHS through reductions in hospital emissions.

To read more on how BT and Home Group are working together using Smart Technology to help maximise the independence of their residents, click here.