Futuristic care for Gloucestershire
10 April 2019, 16:17 | Updated: 15 April 2019, 09:21
Some high-tech gadgets are now being used to help look after older people in Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire County Council has been showcasing some of them at a special Technology and Equipment Apartment in St Oswald's Village.
They kitted it out with lots of new pieces of tech, all aimed at helping older people stay happier, healthier and more independant.
It included everything from basic web cams and tablets, to interactive robot cats and dogs, to vacuum cleaners that are self-propelled and smart enough to clean a room on their own.
Other technologies being tried out are more app based and allow friends and family to monitor an elderly relatives heart rate, or know how many times they've opened the fridge.
The County Council say these technologies show how innovative technology is changing the way people think about care. It's an area of great concern as the number of adults over 65 living with a long-term condition in Gloucestershire is predicted to rise by almost two thirds by 2030, from 47,500 people to 77,000.
However, statistics show that the majority of adults who develop a long-term condition prefer to find their own solutions, maintain their independence, and stay in control of their own lives.
Councillor Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Technology is radically changing the way people live. We know that most of our county's residents want to remain independent for as long as possible and want support to stay in their own homes.
"Through smart technology and handy gadgets they are more likely to be able to do just that. We want to prevent, reduce, and delay care needs, and connecting people to these options earlier helps us to reach more people and promote independence."
Some of the equipment which was on show will be trialled out in adult social care in Gloucestershire, whilst other items are simply being recommended to older generations, or those who look after them.
The Technology and Equipment Apartment is also part of a wider campaign to promote independence and wellbeing. Find out more at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/buildyourcircle
