Sensors with built-in artificial intelligence technologies to be rolled out to help people live at home for longer

One of the largest social housing providers in the Highlands, Albyn Housing Society, is to roll out sensors into 200 new homes to help vulnerable people live independently in their homes for longer.

The technology will enable GPs, families and social care workers to remotely monitor the wellbeing of people in need of additional support. The sensors track movement, temperature and day to day activity including eating, sleeping and going to the toilet enabling care and support to be targeted more effectively. Over time with ongoing research the aim is to identify and predict illnesses and detect medical emergencies including falls.

Albyn Housing Society has already rolled out the technology to more than 60 homes across the Highlands, including 33 purpose-built homes. The project is supported by the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, through which £3 million is being provided for the project by the Scottish government and £464,000 by the UK government.
All of Albyn Housing’s FitHomes are located across the Highlands, primarily in Inverness, Dingwall, Lairg and Nairn. The technology helps to relieve the strain on social care, which is often a challenge, especially in rural areas like the Highlands where there are lower density populations. This should enable people to remain in their own homes and communities for longer.

The current technology is developed in Scotland in collaboration with academic partners, including Glasgow University, Robert Gordon University and Napier University. Further research is being developed with institutions across the UK.
Kirsty Morrison, Group CEO of Albyn, said: “Our Fit Homes have been truly transformational for people living in our communities across the Highlands, including veterans and those with social care needs. The technology helps more than just the individual, it also helps to relieve the strain on our social care services which are already stretched due to the rurality of our area. Families and friends are now able to keep an eye on their relatives more easily regardless of geography.

“The Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal has injected much needed investment in the region, helping to create jobs and improve lives. Our allocation of funding will mean around 200 more households who require it will benefit from our Fit Homes technology.
“After speaking to our tenants who live in our current Fit Homes, I know that it has brought peace of mind to them, their families and carers, whilst also allowing them to live independently. But this new funding will allow us to go further, with the new hub enabling other sensor technology to be added easily – so, for instance we can use the system to monitor for damp or mould, or support other technology our public sector partners may need added with little additional cost.”