Agenda item

The Committee had its third witness session as part of its review on Assisted Living Technologies (ALT). Members heard from three service provider organisations as detailed below. Each organisation provided an overview of their products, insight into how their products benefited residents and future planning around assisted living technologies.

Tunstall

Members first heard from Tunstall which was a technology company that used technology to support people requiring care and health intervention to live independently in their chosen home setting. Solutions enabled independent living by defining new models of care and creating globally connected healthcare solutions. Tunstall’s vision was to give people the freedom to live their lives so that people could stay at home for as long as possible.

The Committee heard about the different products available including the Tunstall Go, Connect Wellbeing App and Group Living Solutions. The future involved an emphasis on cognitive care by increasing the level of personalisation in care and health systems.

Following Member questions, it was confirmed that only the necessary data was held for users and this was not shared with third parties. In terms of obstacles to using Assisted Living Technologies, there was no specific cohort that encountered obstacles, however generally mental health during and post lockdown had impacted this area significantly. Although there had initially been a weariness of technology, this position had changed during lockdown as many people had become more familiar with IT devices. The pendant worked well as an option for elderly people prone to falls. There were several products available for the future however these were still in the testing stage and the aim was to have equipment that was compatible with all types of other equipment.

Buddi

Members then heard from Buddi which was a technology company that focussed on providing peace of mind by enabling people to live independently in their own homes for longer.

The Committee heard about the different products available including the Buddi Mini, Buddi Clip, Buddi Clip and Connect Wristband and the Buddi Hub.  Members welcomed the different case studies involving other local authorities where products had assisted with travel training. These products had also assisted with dementia and falls risks enabling residents to continue to live in their own homes, whilst  managing risks around seizures.

Following Member questions, it was noted that although the battery life for specific products was 24 hours, various alerts could be set up to act as charging reminders. There were alternative options available for services who were prone to losing their devices and an example of this included cello taping the device to zimmer frames. The devices were numbered personally so were easily identifiable and there was also an option to disable tracking information. There were a number of products available for the future that were in the process of being completed.

Apello

Members lastly heard from Apello which was technology company that had developed products such as a monitored personal emergency alarm to enable people to lead independent and fulfilled lives.

The Committee heard about the different products available and the significance of everything now being digital. The Smart Living Solution was the main system and there were a range of cloud services including the digital bridge. The Committee watched a video on the digital transition. It was noted that Apello had also been awarded the best use of technology for housing.

In response to Member questions regarding response times, it was confirmed that as soon as the call was initiated a response would be almost instant, irrespective of the client base size. It was noted that all products were digitally designed and future proofed.

Virtual headset training

It was noted that prior to the meeting, the Select Committee took part in a virtual headset demonstration, where Members were guided through a range of experiences, had an opportunity to use the headsets and gain an insight into what a person with dementia and autism experiences. Members found the session to be powerful and insightful.

RESOLVED: That the Committee heard the witness evidence and asked questions of those present.