ExtraCare win top award for using technology to support healthy ageing
Michael Spellman and Kerry Stack at the awards
ExtraCare’s Wellbeing Research and Innovation Lead Manager Michael Spellman commented: “Winning the Best Use of Technology in Seniors Housing award is a very proud moment for the team, and I’m especially proud of our Research and Technology Lead Kerry Stack and our Research Officer, Oliver Smail. This win reinforces the team’s goal to embed down to earth, useful technology that assists residents in their day-to-day life. It also sparks an interest in technology that could otherwise be extinguished through societal myths around older people and technology. Finding the right technology and matching it to needs in a person centred way clearly makes all the difference.
I’d like to thank everyone in our locations who have supported tech-based projects, kept an open mind and stayed curious in regard to technology use for our residents. That sort of thinking and action has greatly contributed to ExtraCare achieving this award.”
Oliver Smail and Kerry Stack in the innovation apartment with the award.
Research and Technology Lead Kerry Stack added: “It’s great to win an award in this area for ExtraCare, I think the main reason this has been possible is that we have the freedom to explore freely available non specialist tech/devices with our residents and to tailor it towards their needs. This freedom also allows us to focus on influencing specific technology design through various research collaborations with external researchers, universities and robotics labs particularly looking at identifying /preventing health-based issues in the future. There are plenty of new projects in the pipeline so watch this space!”
Solihull Village’s innovation apartment gives residents the opportunity to trial technology in real life environments. In turn, the apartment has enabled ExtraCare to better understand customer expectations and the impact technology has on residents’ lives. The apartment showcases not only smart tech devices and sensors that can help residents continue to live independently but features such as drop-down cupboards in the kitchen, a rise and fall hob, grab rails in the bathroom that can easily be retrofitted, better lighting and contrasts.
To find out more about the Senior Housing Awards please visit: https://seniorshousingawards.com/
To learn more about Solihull Village please visit: https://extracare.org.uk/villages/solihull-village/
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