NHS to trial smart meters which will help monitor dementia patients in their homes
The device will be able to flag up any sudden differences in a patient's routine which could indicate that the person has fallen, become ill or had a decline in their mental state
SMART meters are going to be used by the NHS to help and monitor dementia patients in their own homes.
It is thought that the devices will be able to track their daily routines such as cooking dinner or boiling the kettle.
The tech will be able to flag up any sudden differences in the routine which could indicate that the person has fallen, become ill or had a decline in their mental state.
They will then be able to alert a family member or carer who will then attend the address of the patient to check on their welfare.
The NHS trial will start this year following initial research by computer science experts at Liverpool John Moores University.
A six month observation trial was launched for the technology in 2017, and a more extensive trial of 50 patients is being launched by the University and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Experts claim that the devices could prevent admissions to A&E and also allow patients to live an independent life for longer without going into care homes.
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Ministers have previously promised to install the devices into every home by 2020 but the rollout has taken a hit and is behind schedule.
In a statement, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said being able to monitor a patient at home with their consent “shows how innovative technologies enabled by smart meters can improve many aspects of our lives, not just our energy use”.
They added: “This kind of technology has the potential to change someone’s quality of life, and their families’ lives, for the better by helping patients with long-term conditions stay at home and remain independent for longer.”
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