Making Tech Work for Independent Living

A project with real purpose

For the past year, I have been working with my colleague Niloofar Borghei Razavi on the Independent Living Technology Enabled Care Project (ILTECP). It’s a partnership between Henley Business School, Reading Borough Council and tech providers (for example, Howz and Lilli).

The project, funded by the Digital Transformation Fund, set out to explore how sensor-based care technology could enhance independent living for eligible individuals receiving adult social care. The aim was to make life safer and more manageable, to spot early signs of health issues and support people’s wellbeing.

Why this matters now

There’s growing demand for adult social care and it’s getting more complex – especially with an ageing population and limited resources. This project was designed to test practical, tech-based solutions that support more proactive and preventive care (aligning with current local and national priorities).

Connected care

Between January 2024 and February 2025, we rolled out a range of sensor and app-based technologies designed to monitor daily routines in real time. These systems aimed to:

• improve assessment accuracy

• detect early signs of deterioration

• support independence

• make it easier for families to feel engaged

• help practitioners to respond quickly

Each case involved careful screening to check eligibility, expert installation of the devices, and regular engagement of the delivery and evaluation team with social care professionals and the people using the tech.

In total, we installed over 130 sensor kits in the homes of eligible individuals across Reading.

Measuring the impact

Our team at Henley led the evaluation using a mixed-methods approach – combining surveys (at the start, at three months and at six months) and interviews with service users, family members, practitioners and other stakeholders.

We looked at how people’s quality of life changed, how they felt about using the technology, whether they had any privacy concerns and how it affected caregivers. Practitioners were asked about productivity, case management, decision-making and their overall views on the technology.

The early results were encouraging. Most users felt safe and more supported. Family members liked the reassurance the apps gave them – though some mentioned concerns about the reliability of data and communication. Practitioners appreciated the extra insight the sensors provided, especially when assessing risks. However, many requested clear protocols for follow-up and data use.

Learning as we go

In the early stages, we faced challenges. Uptake was lower than expected – partly due to some users being unsure about the technology, practitioner workload pressure and inconsistent referral pathways.

This led us to rethink our approach – focusing on targeted recruitment and improving how we worked with practitioners. This helped boost engagement across the board.

What we’ve achieved

Between April 2024 and February 2025, the project was expected to deliver around £50,000 in savings and cost avoidance. The most impact was seen in reablement and supported living services.

The findings show that integrating this kind of tech into everyday care is not just helpful – it’s necessary. The project delivered meaningful benefits and improved lives without being intrusive or overwhelming.

We’ve still got more to learn, but this is a solid foundation for what comes next.

Independent Living Technology Enabled Care Project: Early results

• Most users felt safe and more supported.

• Family members liked the reassurance the apps gave them.

• Practitioners appreciated the extra insight the sensors provided, especially when assessing risks.

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