Amazon Echos will remind elderly to take medication
PENSIONERS in adult social care will be given Amazon Echos in their homes to remind them when to take their medication.
The voice-activated gadgets, which are to be handed out to 50 people, will also remind users when their carer is due to arrive in what is believed to be a world first.
Hampshire County Council is the first local authority to trial the scheme using the £150 devices, which work with Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The pensioners can ask the gadgets to assist them, including with reminders about when to take medication and when their carer is due to arrive.
The council is also pushing for the technology to advise users over remembering to drink more fluids by keeping tabs on them using motion sensors in and around the home.
Amazon Echos, which respond when users say the trigger word “Alexa”, could also be used to encourage pensioners to keep fit in ways such as suggesting walking routes.
Cllr Liz Fairhurst, the authority’s executive member for adult social care, said: “This is a world first for the county council and our care technology partners.
“Working directly with Amazon will ensure our trial is backed by the experience of one of the biggest internetbased retailers in the world. We are very excited about the possibilities this project could open up in the future and its potential to benefit the future of social care.”
The council has teamed up with Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership, its partner in delivering technology to users’ homes, and internet giant Amazon to make the trial happen.
The authority also received £50,000 from the Local Government Association.
The technology will be used to support and manage the requirements of the 50 pensioners, avoiding the need for any additional care packages.
This will be designed into the Amazon Echo devices, which will be in place within the tester’s home by the end of the year.
Argenti was previously commissioned by the council in 2013 and now looks after more than 8,500 clients through care technology.
According to the authority, the programme saved it £4.7 million in its first three years of use. Steve Carefull, adult care expert at the partnership, said: “Our award-winning work with the council is industry leading, and we are proud to be working with one of the biggest household names to help the authority to deliver innovative services to the most vulnerable people.
“This technology can complement support from human carers and help ensure that important resources are focused on supporting those with the greatest needs.”