TAPPI Cast – 28 April 2023

Welcome to TAPPI Cast, our weekly update on the 'Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation' (TAPPI) project which aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people.

On Wednesday this week, Nathan Downing, TSA and Dan Rock, TAPPI Tec Project Officer at Platform Housing ran a TAPPI session at The Digital Healthcare Show (opens new window). With over 4500 delegates attending over two days, this is on of the most significant ‘UK event for healthcare professionals looking to revolutionise the NHS through the use of data, analytics and technology.’

In terms of past events, we’re delighted to be able to share recordings of two major events which took place last month:

TSA’s ITEC 2023 which took place last month was a huge success, and we're thrilled to share that the photos, videos, and presentation slides are now available for viewing, including the ‘Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI)’ session on the Innovation stage chaired by R​oy Sandbach OBE, along with presentations from Jolie Goodman, Associate, Co-production Works; Debra Edwards, TAPPI Co-production champion, Haringey; Dr Lynne Douglas, Chief Executive, Bield Housing & Care; Jirko Hoogerwerf, Safer Life at Home, IKEA of Sweden AB; and Jeremy Porteus, CEO, Housing LIN. Watch below:

The Dunhill Medical Trust have now also shared the recording of their Annual Lectures which took place at the end of last month. Hear from Professor Roy Sandbach on the TAPPI project below:

 

Updates from our Testbeds:

We're enormously grateful to David Fuente and Community Housing for their invaluable support in assessing for, supplying and installing potentially life-changing Technology Enabled Care solutions. Thursday saw the delivery of tipper kettles, GPS alarms, motion activated lights and visual door alerts to enhance the safety and independence of those at Harling Court who need it the most. We look forward to monitoring the impact these devices have on our customers in the coming months, and can't wait to trial more person-centred TEC solutions very soon.

Additional funding was secured for eight tablets following initial engagement from residents about their wishes for care technology with reducing isolation and increasing social engagement. The tablets are now ready and again through discussions with residents the tablets have been configured and built to include ‘apps’ to improve and train the brain, chair mobility exercises and how to connect with your community. Residents will receive training and awareness sessions from ‘AbilityNet’ in the coming weeks whose vision is a ‘digital world be accessible to all’. Residents will receive one on one sessions, with these sessions targeted to their hopes and needs to improve their engagement, confidence and ability to feel part of the world around them.

As reported a couple of weeks ago, Bield has opened a digital hub in West Lothian to showcase new housing technology to tenants. The hub consists of four spaces including two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, one kitchen space, and one living space. There is also a consultation room and a dining space.  Each room has been fitted out with different assistive technologies for people to test. Find out more in this ATtoday article (opens new window).

Preparations are now underway for the formal opening of the digital hub on 17th May. The TAPPI Programme Board met yesterday to discuss this as well as progress with each of the three challenges. We also issued the Cambridge University survey to all Bield staff and have already received over 100 responses.

Publications of interest:

TAPPI Phase 2: New personal stories from TAPPI Champions

The second phase of TAPPI is committed to co-production. The approach we have designed is a Champions’ model. Each of the six TAPPI testbed sites nominated staff and tenants to join the Co-production Champions Group. There are 17 members of the Champions’ group, 9 tenants and 8 staff.

The Champions’ group makes sure that the voice of later life housing tenants is at the heart of everything that TAPPI does, enabling TAPPI to be rooted in people’s lives and the reality of their experiences.

The 4 personal stories collected here are the authentic voices of the Champions. The stories cover the positives and negatives of digital technology, peoples’ hopes and fears and highlight how technology can be both a blessing and a curse.

Forthcoming events of interest:

Click here (opens new window) for a list of all forthcoming TAPPI related events, including:

• 27-29 June in Manchester - CIH Annual Conference 'H​ousing 2023' (opens new window) - Prof Roy Sandbach, TAPPI Chair, Lynn Douglas, CEO, Bield Housing & Care, and Debra Edwards, TAPPI Co-production Champion will run a TAPPI sessions along with other TAPPI presentations during the conference by Alyson Scurfield, CEO, TSA; Jeremy Porteus, CEO, Housing LIN; and Jirko Hoogerwerf, TAPPI Steering Board member.