New gadgets give the elderly long home-life

Paul Edwards

HI-TECH talking home computers could soon be helping elderly Hampshire residents to live longer in their own homes.

The county council is to pilot a project involving the use of sensors fitted to the home, including doors, bed, bath, toilet, cooker, floors and locks.

The sensors collect information such as whether doors are locked, someone has got out of bed, room and bath temperatures, falls by people and the use of the fridge or cooker, which is then fed into the home computer.

If the computer spots something wrong, it "talks" to the resident via a telephone or a screen for the hearing impaired, reminding them, for instance, that they have not locked the back door or turned off the cooker. If there is still a problem, the computer alerts a carer who lives nearby.

Final details of the scheme are still being worked on, but those who work with the elderly were impressed when they saw a presentation on the project, known as Millenium Homes.

The aim of Millennium Homes is to allow older people, who need a little support but not residential care, to live in their own homes for longer, only needing access to outside support in an emergency. Residents would not use the computer itself, but only communicate with it when prompted by screen or telephone.

Andrew Booker, Hampshire social services assistant director for older people, said: "If an emergency does arise then help is close at hand through community supporters who are alerted to the situation."