University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is collaborating with Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) on an innovative living lab project focused on exploring the impact of digital health technology in the homes of older residents.
The project, known as the ‘Plymouth Living Lab’, is aiming to address frailty management in a home environment specifically tailored for older individuals with frailty. Residents of PCH will have the opportunity to contribute to the co-design of technologies such as sensors and wearable devices.
Through piloting these technologies designed to support independent living at home, the research seeks to determine their effectiveness in enhancing the health and well-being of older people with mild to moderate frailty. Rachael Fox, partnership project manager, expressed pride in PCH’s initiative to integrate housing and health services.
Supported by funding from Cisco’s ‘Country digital acceleration’ initiative, the project will engage a PCH-based user engagement researcher to facilitate collaboration among residents, healthcare professionals, and social care staff in co-designing, testing, and assessing home-based technologies.
This project is part of PCH’s ‘Health and Housing’ partnership with Livewell Southwest. Jonathan Cowie, PCH’s chief executive, highlighted the pioneering nature of the Plymouth Living Lab project and its potential as a global model for collaborative healthcare innovation.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust also announced the successful implementation of its virtual ward beds, which are now over 80% occupied with plans for further expansion.
