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75 residents supported in their own homes through 75 installations
MiiCare case studies and media releases:
- Local residents can stay safely in their own home for longer thanks to MiiCare
- How MiiCare is helping people to stay safely in their own homes
- MiiCare helps local people to live independently for longer
The virtual assistant helping keep people safe and at home for longer
‘Monica’ is a virtual assistant – the voice of a remote monitoring device that checks someone’s wellbeing and daily routines to help them stay safe and well. This is particularly effective for supporting people whose care needs are being assessed after leaving hospital.
In a pilot project, technology company MiiCare partnered with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) and Luton Borough Council to provide the support for people who are at risk of falls or urinary tract infections. The device was also available for those who had recently left stroke or neurological units. Healthcare professionals involved in a patient’s care could refer them for the service if appropriate.
Monica acts as a health coach, using carefully placed sensors to monitor their movements between rooms or providing reminders to take medication or have a drink. Her prompts and encouragement to look after themselves can help people avoid infections and hospital stays. Door sensors can alert family members and carers when a door is left open, send them SOS messages if help is needed, and provide healthcare professionals with information about someone’s day-to-day life and sleep habits.
The technology not only provides reassurance for the individual and their family members, but also means the person can stay in their own home. That’s better for them, and also reduces the pressure on the care system, enabling services to provide care where it’s most needed.
We conducted a pilot project to test and evaluate MiiCare to build an evidence base for future investment. The aim was to support 100 residents in their own home, and to support them to stay at home for longer, reduce avoidable care home admissions, and reduce falls and urinary tract infections.
Since January 2023, we provided 73 kits to homes across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes – mostly to people aged 70-89 who had a high risk of falls, early onset dementia or memory loss. Observations included enhanced opportunity for early intervention and support, some individuals were supported to remain at home for longer, and some family members were reassured and felt more in control.
The analysis of the pilot found that the most successful element was having a known or trusted professional to actively monitor and support the individual. However, as is sometimes the case with pilots, there were also factors that meant some of the planned benefits were not fully demonstrated.
The BLMK Digitising Social Care team will continue to work with MiiCare to support individuals with live subscriptions. All existing customers will be notified when their subscription is coming to an end, so they have the option to renew.
What the families say:
“Thanks to the MiiCare app I have assurance at my fingertips! Monica provides me with a real-time picture of where my mother is, and sends me alerts when activity is outside of her normal routines. I am able to easily check her blood pressure (when required by her GP frailty checks), her temperature if she seems unwell, and whether she has taken her tablets. I would undoubtedly recommend MiiCare, as this little box has taken away some of the worry, without removing my mother’s sense of self or independence.” – ‘Karen’ (not her real name), whose mother uses MiiCare.
What our care providers say:
“Mr D is 86 years young, and lives on his own. He has three daughters who live far away, and a granddaughter who visits once a week. He has a history of falls which led to a hospital admission, and he cannot lift his arms up due to his rotator cuff which cannot be operated on. APT was commissioned to support him four times daily with one carer to help him with personal care, medication, meals and catheter management. MiiCare was discussed soon after discharge with him and the family, and trust established. Mr D and his daughters were worried about him having another fall, lying helpless on the floor until a carer arrived.
“The ability to ask Monica to call in an emergency was described by his granddaughter as ‘a game-changer’. The family can access the dashboard to check in on his wellbeing – how he slept, how active he is… knowing that in the background APT is monitoring as well, and able to respond as appropriate. The family had considered moving Mr D to a residential home, but he didn’t want to leave his home where he’d raised his family. With MiiCare, now he doesn’t have to!” – APT Care Ltd (domiciliary care provider), Luton
Contact us at:
blmkicb.digital.socialcare@nhs.net