Suffolk County Council

As technology and connectivity become embedded in everyday lives, using assistive technology and other digital care solutions are increasingly seen as a solution to meet social care needs. However, despite assistive technology existing for over a decade, there is still limited research about how effective its deployment to meet needs is, comparative to other orthodox care provision. Furthermore, there is even less research into what the barriers for uptake might be and how the users feel about having a technology offer as part of their care and support package.

We intend to commission user research (partnering with the University of Suffolk) to better understand what benefits using assistive technology provides for users, as well as what some of the barriers are to its success. Given the breadth and scope of using technology and connectivity to support people, we would start with a small and defined statement to evidence around whether assistive technology can be a positive addition to someone’s life. This would include “consumer” technology (i.e. apps, AI home hubs and smart homes) to ensure that the research is sustainable as it is likely this kind of technology will play an increasing role in supporting people’s lives in the future.