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Assistive Technology

Assistive technology can help reduce loneliness by helping older people connect with friends and family through online messaging and video call services – which is shown to decrease feelings of loneliness among older people and foster a sense of connection.

The resources below contain information on the ways that technology and innovations can help older people feel less lonely, and maintain connection with their friends and family. They feature best practice and guidance for digital inclusion, evaluations of current and developing technologies to understand their impact on tackling loneliness.

How TAPPI is helping to shape the future of independent living at Bield Housing

Curious about how technology can transform independent living for older adults? Read on to learn more about Gary Baillie's journey leading Bield’s BR24 Alarm Receiving Centre, monitoring over 18,000 citizens across Scotland.

Lonely Nation: Ending loneliness among older people

This report from the Centre for Social Justice, in collaboration with Randal Charitable Foundation, shows that nearly 6 out of 10 of all adults feel lonely at least some of the time. Though finding that older people are the least lonely age cohort in the UK, where loneliness does exist, or in order to prevent it, they identify housing and digital exclusion as 2 of 6 challenges for government and policy makers, and make a series of recommendations.

TAPPI – Personal Stories

TAPPI uses a Champions' model for co-production, with 17 members from staff and tenants across the six locality testbeds. These Personal Stories are shared by the Champions and cover the positives and negatives of digital technology and how it affects their lives.

Digital Interventions for Reducing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

This is part of a suite of evidence and gap maps published by the World Health Organization on interventions for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older adults. The table focuses on digital interventions and cross references a cluster of useful research findings against different interventions and individual, community and/or system outcomes.

Online group social activities: connecting older people during lockdown and beyond

As housing and social care looks for ways to reduce social isolation, and make better use of technology, Alex Evans, Independent Consultant, shares how their research offers a glimpse into the difference that Zoom and similar technologies can make.

Promoting Inclusive living via Technology Enabled support: The INVITE Project

The INVITE project is a partnership between researchers from the University of Stirling and Stonewater, a social housing provider in England, and funded by the Longleigh Foundation. The project investigates the ways in which assistive technologies can be used to improve health, wellbeing, activity, and community participation in older adults.

Sparko and Anchor Hanover: digitally connecting the digitally excluded

Sparko and Anchor Hanover's approach to digitally connecting the digitally excluded

Tips to help your remote project tackle loneliness

This report draws upon a developmental evaluation of the BCF, the first ever cross government fund dedicated to reducing loneliness in England, delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and the Co-op Foundation.

Ageing Well with Assistive Technology: Co-producing technology solutions with older people

This scoping review of the evidence by the University of Stirling forms part of the resources being published by Stonewater Housing Association’s INVITE project - Promoting INclusive liVing vIa Technology-Enabled support Project - into how technology has enormous potential to support quality of life for older people, including those with age-related conditions such as dementia.

Ageing Well with Assistive Technology

This guest blog from the University of Stirling for Dementia Awareness week, highlights how technology has enormous potential to support quality of life for older people, including those with age-related conditions such as dementia.

Digital inclusion and older people – how have things changed in a Covid-19 world?

Analysis from Age UK shows that the pandemic has not in fact produced a sea-change in older people’s use of digital technology, warning that a drift towards services and activities being online. It shows that while just under a quarter (24 per cent) of over-75s in England have increased their internet usage since the pandemic hit, this is mainly driven by existing users going online more often.

Working with councils on the largest and fastest roll-out of care technology to keep people connected during COVID-19

This report places the spotlight on the joint project between RETHINK Partners; Essex, Kent and Suffolk councils; and Alcove to improve digital connectivity for older people, adults with learning disabilities, people living with a mental health condition and carers.

Walk in their shoes – supporting people who have been shielded at home

Habinteg Housing support worker, Laura Gregg, gives a personal account of supporting vulnerable adults who are shielding in the North East of England during Covid-19. She highlights how many of her clients are digitally excluded and how this has acerbated their health and wellbeing under lockdown, especially experiencing increased loneliness and isolation.

Crafts & Creativity: A round up of C&Cs sheltered housing schemes’ online activities

Central & Cecil's Residents Engagement Manager, Chris Barber, showcases a variety of inspiring creative digital activities that have significantly helped their older residents stay engaged, socially distanced but connected during the pandemic.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies to support social connections for older people

This paper by the University of Manchester proposes a brief literature review on the use of information and communication technologies to support social connections for older people.

Prevention - Self-care and lifestyle choices

Digital Inclusion Guide for Health and Care in Wales

This new guide from the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and the Wales Co-Operative Centre provides guidance on digital inclusion in Wales.

Tackling social exclusion at Grand Union Housing Group

Jan Davies of Grand Union Housing writes about how digital technology can tackle social exclusion.

Harnessing Technology to Tackle Loneliness

A new report commissioned by Vodafone UK reveals that digital technology can help alleviate loneliness among the over 50s.

Living Digitally – An evaluation of the CleverCogs digital care and support system

This report looks at how Technology Enabled Care can have a positive effect on health and well-being.

Harnessing Technology to Tackle Loneliness

A new report commissioned by Vodafone UK reveals that digital technology can help alleviate loneliness among the over 50s.

Help at Home - Use of assistive technology for older people

This review presents a selection of recent research on assistive technology for older people.

The Role of Technology in Combating Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Guide for Housing Providers

New research from Appello shows that technology offers a lifeline for older people at risk of social isolation and loneliness.

Robotics in Social Care: A Connected Care EcoSystem for Independent Living

In this white paper, the UK-RAS Network looks at the emerging crisis in UK social care and presents their vision for creating a connected care ecosystem linking home, residential and hospital care as a continuum.

Getting TeleHealthCare Aware

Centras' Telecare offer - now is a great time to get involved and ask questions about how we can help you or someone you know, live more independently and happily

Social Isolation and Loneliness in the UK Report: With a focus on the use of technology to tackle these conditions

This report by The Internet of Things UK aims to provide an overview of the social isolation and loneliness landscape in the UK.

Social workers must embrace telecare for service users to realise full benefits

Written by Jeremy Porteus, Director, Housing Learning and Improvement Network When it comes to care and support planning under the Care Act 2014, social workers hold a degree of responsibility for...

Technology enabled housing with care: Scenarios

This Housing LIN Case Study report is a culmination of the South West Housing LIN Leadership Set's shared learning across the region, and sets out a series of scenarios to demonstrate the improved outcomes...

Smart Hamlets: Putting people and communities at the heart of development

Written by Michael Clinton, Director, Initiative Homes Ltd, A Schumacher Institute Company Initiative Homes is a Schumacher Institute company that has been set up in response to not only the all too...

Doing Digital Inclusion: Social Housing Handbook

With over 31% of social housing tenants above retirement age, this handbook by the Tinder Foundation outlines the challenges to support tenants to get online and gain basic digital skills. It offers...

What developments in the built environment will support the adaptation and 'future proofing' of homes and local neighbourhoods so that people can age well in place over the life course, stay safe and maintain independent lives?

This Foresight paper by Dr Judith Torrington examines how current housing stock and the built environment can meet the needs of an ageing population, and which changes to design could affect positive...

Assistive technology as a means of supporting people with dementia: A Review

To coincide with the Housing LIN's involvement in the Prime Minister's challenge on dementia, we have published this helpful review of how AT can support people with dementia. Co-authored by Tahir Idris...