New homes are simply tech-tastic
Tech-enabled homes in South Lanarkshire are improving and changing lives.
They are designed to be fully accessible and to support modern technology solutions for independent living, as part of South Lanarkshire’s wider plans to modernise care, especially for older people,
And the first resident, Betty Mcgarvie, has said she loves her home in Blantyre.
She said: “It is the most beautiful wee house that I have moved into. The kitchen is massive. I thought they had made a mistake and given me a home like this, but it was for me.
“I really love it, I feel a lot of contentment here.
“I have had loads of visitors, and I am really grateful to all the friends who helped make my move so easy. I love my life at the moment, I really do.”
The move into the tech-enabled home will improve Betty’s quality of life and give her back more independence.
The homes are designed to be fully accessible which means it is easier for Betty to move about in her wheelchair and reach power sockets and light switches.
Director of Health and Social Care Soumen Sengupta said: “I am delighted that Betty has settled into her new home so quickly and comfortably.
“All the evidence shows that if older people can be properly supported in their own homes they will have a better quality of life, and that is our goal.
“Increasing provision of homes such as these – that combine digital technology and modern design standards – means more and more older people can live with greater independence within what will be their own homes. Thanks to the work of our housing colleagues and construction partners, these new tech-enabled houses demonstrate what modern social care provision can look like”
Tech solutions can vary from voice activated lights and gadgets to more advanced equipment including remote alert systems and fall detection.
The solutions can allow the tenant to do more for themselves and feel more confident that any additional support required is available.
A 45-home development in Blantyre, including 20 techenabled homes, is at the centre of the modernisation plans.
The further 25 homes on the development are being added to the council’s stock of houses for rent and will form part of South Lanarkshire Home+ programme which aims to deliver 1000 new council houses.
South Lanarkshire Council’s executive director of housing and technical resources, Daniel Lowe, said: “The development in Blantyre will deliver a total of 45 new homes including the 20 tech-enabled houses for Health and Social Care.
“As with all our Home+ developments these homes are built to the highest achievable standards to be warm, comfortable and energy efficient. The tech-enabled houses have additional designed-in adaptability to ensure they suit the widest range of residents’ needs.”