Using Smart Digital Technology to Shape the Future of Social Care

Sunderland City Council has received recognition and funding for a new project to will further explore how ‘Smart’ digital technology can be used help shape the future of social care

The aim is to improve health and social care services using Smart digital technology which includes everyday items such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Hive and mobile devices such smart phones and tablets.

The data from the Smart technology will be analysed and used to help staff work together to support people’s individual and specific care needs.

During the first phase of the project Sunderland City Council will be working in partnership with Sunderland Software City, Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley and Urban Foresight.

The partnership will explore how the adult care sector can use Smart digital technology to meet future challenges such as the increasing demand on services from an increasingly older population.

It is hoped that by using Smart technology and the data the devices collect so efficiently, that the adult care sector in Sunderland can be better placed to plan services and meet increasing demands on adult social care.

Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Dr Geoffrey Walker said: “Sunderland City Council is at the cutting edge of using assistive and digital technology to support residents with their individual care needs.

“Working with our clients we have tested a range of devices to help people with a variety of conditions.

“Feedback from those taking part, staff and residents alike, has been extremely positive showing that assistive technology can be used very effectively to help support people to remain independent for longer, improve the quality of life for residents and their families/carers, and also save money from an increasingly limited budget.”