Elderly and vulnerable people in Dudley borough could soon be able to benefit from a new system that enables residents to remain independent in their own homes.

Dudley Council is working with a supplier to pilot the Ethel Care system in selected locations.

Residents taking part in the trial, which runs until February 2025, can utilise a 16-inch tablet device, six sensors and (where needed) a mobile network router.

The Ethel Care system will benefit residents of Dudley as part of their reablement care package. As part of the pilot, the Ethel Care system will be free of charge and will provide those taking part with a virtual connection to the reablement care team.

An online video outlining the system, which allows video calls and messages to be carried out between adult social care staff, family, carers and the resident, has been released at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RarKruDUBmI

The sensors provide an update of activity carried out by the resident, to support them within their own home and information can be fed back to support staff and to family members or carers via a mobile phone application.

Instead of all visits needing to take place face-to-face, it provides the opportunity for some help to be provided remotely. Residents will be offered virtual appointments for areas such as hydration, nutrition and therapy care and helpful exercise videos can be added for the resident to try out.

Councillor Andrea Goddard, cabinet member for adult social care said:

“There could be many benefits to using this model, which gives us the ability to help more residents in an efficient and cost-effective way.

“Most importantly, technology such as this can help more residents to stay in their own homes and gives their loved ones peace of mind that they are being checked in with more often.”

For more information people can contact the council’s adult social care team on 0300 5550055.