AI Sensors Help Hundreds Live Independently At Home

Hundreds of people are now able to live more safely and independently at home in Medway thanks to new care technology.

The system, called Lilli, uses small, discreet sensors and artificial intelligence to understand a person’s daily routines, helping people stay in their homes and avoid unnecessary moves into residential care.

Medway Council said the technology had already helped save £1.6m in its first year.

Brett Burnell, whose father Keith lives with dementia and has the system installed in his flat, said: “I can check that he’s safe within his home and it allows him to continue to be at home for the foreseeable future.”

The programme is delivered by the council’s wholly owned tech partner Kyndi and supports “national health and care goals to move services into communities – and use digital tools to improve care”.

Mr Burnell said: “My dad’s obviously frail and getting older. It means that I can know what my dad is doing on certain occasions.”

He added that both he and his sister have the Lilli app which monitors their father’s activity, and “obviously I can check that he’s eating when the fridge is opened and I know that he’s awake and that he’s able to get everything”.

Councillor Teresa Murray, deputy leader of Medway Council, said the data was “helping us to transform how we deliver care”.

She said that in some cases the data has shown that an individual was no longer able to live alone, but it had also given “much-needed reassurance to families that their loved ones are safe to stay in their homes and communities, which is where they want to be”.

The technology works without cameras or microphones. Instead, small sensors track movement, eating, sleeping, bathroom use and home temperature.

The system learns what is normal for each person and flags anything unusual, such as signs of illness, reduced mobility, or wandering at night.

This helps carers respond earlier and tailor support to individual needs.

Medway is one of several councils trialling the system in response to growing demand for care.

The local authority said it was already helping older people and adults with learning disabilities get faster assessments and avoid health crises.

Evidence produced by the company suggests that for every £1 spent councils can save £45 and free up thousands of carer hours.

Clare Burgess, CEO of Kyndi, said that as well as the financial advantage the technology would offer a “social impact within Medway as people are more connected to their communities”.

“This really makes a difference to people’s lives,” she added.