A new digital hub in West Lothian showcasing housing technology of the future has been launched.
Following a tenant sneak-peek in March, Bield Housing and Care has officially opened the Bield Tech Hub in Linlithgow, having secured £75k of funding through the The Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project.
The launch allowed stakeholders, including local health and social care partnerships, staff and other housing associations, to trial and give feedback on digital care advancements of the future.
The Bield Tech Hub consists of four spaces including two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, one kitchen space and one living space. There is also a consultation room and a dining space.
Each room has been fitted out with different technologies for people to test.
Dr Lynne Douglas, Bield CEO, who said: “We are delighted to have officially opened the Bield Tech Hub and we’re sure it will bring life-changing technology to West Lothian and further afield.
“It was fantastic to give our stakeholders and project partners the opportunity to see first-hand what their support has facilitated.”
The TAPPI project aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people and seeks to address the opportunity that technology has to enhance the lives of the ageing population.
The funding will give Bield the opportunity to work with tenants, staff and partners to gain insight into a range of devices, apps and systems across a variety of housing settings.
With co-production at its heart, Bield staff and tenants will have shared responsibility to produce digital services to support independent living – a first for the Scottish housing charity.
Lynne added: “Our team have worked hard to ensure that Bield tenants, customers and their families are beneficiaries of extremely relevant tech that could make a real difference to their day-to-day lives – we are certain that the three technologies achieve that.
“Preventative care technologies across the board underpin our major tech revolution at Bield and we’re confident that there will be fewer falls and emergencies, generally helping people to live independently for longer and be more confident in their homes.”
Bield is a housing and care charity committed to providing innovative, flexible and high-quality housing solutions and support for older people and has around 180 developments which facilitate independent living across Scotland.
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