Howz work with Reading Borough Council to keep vulnerable people safe at home after they leave hospital

Reading Borough Council has received a significant grant of £1.08 million from the Adult Social Care Digital Transformation Fund to work with Howz over two years to expand its Independent Living Care Technology Solutions.

This initiative builds on the success of a nine-month pilot program and is part of the council’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at enhancing residents' lives through digital technologies.

As more people express a desire to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, the council is eager to implement new technologies that can improve residents' wellbeing and safety at home. Howz and Reading are specifically looking to support vulnerable adults over short term assessment when they are looking to return home from hospital.

The Independent Living Technology Enabled Care (TEC) program allows residents to live safely at home through the use of sensors that monitor daily routines, such as sleep patterns, bathroom visits, and meal preparation. After establishing standard patterns over two weeks, the system can send notifications if there are any deviations, such as increased nighttime bathroom visits or decreased meal preparation. Family members can also access this information through a dedicated app.

The project's goal is to assess the impact of sensor technology combined with advanced analytics, particularly for individuals recently discharged from the hospital or living with long-term health conditions. Staff use the data to provide appropriate support, helping residents to continue living safely at home.

Read all about the project on the BBC website