Herts County Council extends assistive technology services for the elderly

Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to fund the delivery of “telecare” and assistive technology services for residents until 2031.

The authority is extending its partnership with North Herts District Council, which, through Herts Careline, supports more than 13,000 residents with technology that’s designed to help them live independently in their own homes.

On Monday (November 4), a meeting of the county council’s cabinet agreed to extend the £3.3m-a-year partnership – which had been due to last until March 2026 – for a further five years.

“Telecare” is the provision of any technology designed to support residents. Newer “assistive technology” – which can include sensors, bath mats, smart plugs and fall detectors – feeds information into a bespoke “dashboard”. That alerts residents’ carers, families or professionals to any changes in routine.

According to a report presented to the cabinet, this newer technology – also known as Digital Inspired Living – can be used to monitor falls, activity, sleep, routines, medication, light, temperature, self-care, mobility and toilet use.

It has been trialled on a group of 550 Hertfordshire residents since November last year before being rolled out more widely.

Cllr Tony Kingsbury, HCC’s executive member for adult care, health and wellbeing, said the partnership had been instrumental in providing county-wide telecare and assistive technology services since 2021.

Since then, they had upgraded more than 150,000 telecare devices, implemented a fully digitised system and introduced a range of sensors that provide real-time information to families and professionals.

Extending the agreement would allow for the further development of such support for residents within the existing £3.3m-a-year “envelope” by enabling Herts Careline to make purchases required to support future provision.

Cllr Kingsbury said he was confident this would enable the council to strengthen support for vulnerable populations across Hertfordshire.

At the meeting, the move was backed by Cllr Bob Deering, the executive member for resources and performance, who highlighted the council’s position “at the leading edge of assistive technology work when it comes to caring for, in the main, elderly people”.

Cllr Morris Bright, executive member for community safety and public health, reassured those who may have concerns.

“There are people who are concerned that it’s in some way keeping an eye on, keeping track of people,” he said.

“But actually it’s in a positive way. There is no invasion of privacy, no cameras. It’s merely sensors to see if they’re moving and contacts to see whether or not they’re taking medication and so on.”

Sawbridgeworth’s Cllr Eric Buckmaster, executive member for the environment, stressed the benefits of the technology, enabling people to live independently for longer.

He also suggested that it could be better for the environment too. “Of course, if it means fewer visits to hospital, less transport, fewer trips for carers, that all adds to the overall improvement in terms of sustainability,” he said.

According to the report, the use of assistive technology could help to meet increasing demands for social care and could be commercially marketed to other local authorities.