Council trials smart assistive adult social care technology to help residents live healthy, happier independent lives

Article date: 11 February 2025

A tech enabled hub has been created at the council's Brookfield Support Centre on Park Road - which provides intermediate care for people who have been discharged from hospital, or admitted from the community, but not quite ready to return to their own home - to showcase some of the technology to staff, partners and residents staying at Brookfield, which can help improve mobility and support people living with dementia, as well as reduce falls and social isolation.

It forms part of a new, award-nominated practice model which aims to put people at the centre of their care and use new and innovative ways to help people live independently at home for longer. The 'reablement - home first' approach focuses on empowering individuals who may have had a spell in hospital to regain the confidence to perform everyday tasks for themselves.

Commenting on a recent visit to see the tech hub at Brookfield Support Centre, Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Social Care, said: "There are currently 38,500 older adults in St Helens Borough who are supported by the local authority everyday - whether it's to live independently, or with dementia and long-term needs care - with around £70m of the council's overall budget spent on social care every year.

"To meet these challenges and the growing demand for social care as a council working with you, for you - we need to look at not only ways of modernising the service but to become more cost effective which offering this equipment to residents will achieve, while enabling them to live happier, healthier lives in their own homes which is ultimately where they want to be."

Councillor Keith Laird, Cabinet Member for People, Performance and IT, added: 

"Artificial intelligence (AI) and assistive technology, like that on display at Brookfield, has the potential to improve lives and ease pressures on public services like Adult Social Care, for which demand is ever growing.

"Research shows that people live well for longer when they can maintain independence by living in their own home. That's why it's important that we explore innovative ways like the latest digital technology available to us to enable our residents to continue living independently for longer, safe in the knowledge that support is available to them when they require it."

Equipment ranges from assistive lighting and automatic medication dispensers to one-pot kettles and self-draining sinks that help those with mobility issues.  Pillow shakers and sensors help alert to danger and prevent falls. While smart water bottles help to increase fluid intake, with one button computers offering a simple and safe way to communicate with loved ones to reduce social isolation, as does robotic therapy pets which respond to petting, without the need of special care or feeding.

St Helens Borough Council's approach to Artificial Intelligence and tech enabled care has been shortlisted in the Transforming and Innovating Public Services' category at the iNetwork Innovation Awards in Manchester later this month (February).

A digital brochure is now available on the council website to signpost people to equipment which they can purchase independently, with advice and support also offered to residents and families during interactions with Adult Social Care and Integrated staff.

For more information, visit: http://sthelens.gov.uk/article/12602/Our-Vision-For-Technology-Enabled-Care