Thanks to Telford 50 Legacy funding, the opening of an innovative new 'Smart Home', next February will showcase a range of assistive technologies, equipment and gadgets to help older people, those with a disability and people with dementia to live more independently and safely in their own homes.

From simple devices to stop baths overflowing or burning and self-pouring kettles to reduce the risk of scalds and burns, to more major adaptations such as accessible bathrooms, they'll show how life can be made easier for the home's occupants... Examples of what's available on the market will be demonstrated, giving people the opportunity to test equipment and receive free, impartial advice from trained staff. An occupational therapy team will provide assessments and information about what funding will be available to residents.

This £100K project is part of the £2m Telford 50 Legacy Fund, which supports a mix of physical schemes as well as other projects that help tackle key social issues in the borough and reduce demand on council services. Almost 1,400 people took part in a consultation last Summer to find out what people wanted to do with the money, and it was decided that the Smart House would offer a great way of helping people see for themselves how equipment can be easily integrated into their home and how even small adaptations can make huge improvements to quality of life.

In our industry, we're well aware that alarms, detectors, extra-strong glass for shower screens, temperature inhibitors and other devices can help those at risk from slips, falls, eating rotten food and burning themselves with both bathwater and cooking appliances, for example, but it will be lovely to be able to show the general public that there are all sorts of other gadgets and products readily available to make daily activities such as cooking and washing much safer and more manageable. With everything under one roof in the Smart House and trained staff on hand to talk to, people will be confident that they're receiving the right help to suit their individual needs or the needs of someone they care for. I only wish there could be a similar Smart home in every town, so we can all see the technology in action...

I was wondering though whether any of our industry associations had been approached and asked for input?

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs