A NORTH Berwick residential respite centre is trialling robotic technologies which could help people with assisted living needs gain greater independence.
Leuchie House, which offers caring respite breaks for people with a wide range of long-term neurological and physical conditions, has partnered with the National Robotarium to help develop advanced technologies that address specific needs.
The partnership, announced on the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities, will see researchers from the National Robotarium’s Assisted Living Lab work in collaboration with guests at Leuchie House.
Leuchie House is a national charity dedicated to supporting people living with conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, MND and stroke, and also carers.
Its recently opened Centre for Enabling Technology is trialling technology that can support the needs of people with assisted living requirements.
The centre will offer assessments and trials of mainstream and emerging technologies for guests, provide training for individuals, their families and carers, and deliver ongoing support at home.
Examples of tasks that technology could help users complete include opening doors, switching lights on and off, opening and closing curtains, watching TV, listening to the radio and making phone calls.
Mark Bevan, CEO at Leuchie House, said: “Leuchie House is traditionally known for our class-leading residential short breaks and, building from this strength, we have been introducing guests and those who care for them to the benefits of enabling technology, which can restore independence and self-management.
“Our rooms, for example, are equipped with voice-activated environmental controls, to show our guests the art of the possible.
“Our technology team works with guests to install similar technologies at home, giving them and those who care for them more independence and complementing residential short breaks.
“This exciting partnership between the National Respite Centre and the National Robotarium is a further example of how we can build on the past and re-imagine respite for the future.
“It is a key part of our creation of a new National Centre for Enabling Technology.”
The National Robotarium, a partnership between Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, will develop robotics and AI (artificial intelligence) technologies to help people with a wide range of assistive needs, such as providing support after a stroke and monitoring for deterioration in conditions such as dementia.
By combining sensor technology and robotics, data can be collected over longer periods of time, helping to monitor patients and alert carers to when a care package may need to be reviewed.
Professor Lynne Baillie, head of the Assisted Living Lab at the National Robotarium, said: “Our partnership with Leuchie House will allow us to work collaboratively with their guests and carers to develop assisted living technology that truly works for users.
“We will engage directly with individuals to learn more about their unique needs and hear their ideas about how robotic and sensing technologies could provide support.
“Guests will then be invited to our Assisted Living Lab at the National Robotarium to participate in trials of technologies designed to meet these needs in a realistic home setting.”
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