Dumfries and Galloway HSCP has successfully reduced pressures on support services currently in place for adults with intellectual disabilities having embraced innovative digital technologies to ensure better outcomes for service users.
As part of an ambitious project, the HSCP (Health and Social Care Partnership) has been successfully using HAS Technology’s award-winning ARMED prevention technology to redesign its night-time support, collaborating with the ARMED team to utilise data to support the decision process for better interventions.
ARMED combines pioneering predictive data analytics modelling, wearable technology, and health and social care data. This innovative technology identifies and predicts factors that may impact on a care user’s quality of life.
To improve wellbeing and social care outcomes, ARMED is supporting individuals to be more active during the day, which has significantly improved sleep patterns. This has meant less nocturnal activity and less of a requirement for intervention from overnight support staff, while still ensuring that these vulnerable people are safe within their own homes at night.
Having access to key health metrics means the care team has become more aware of clients’ wellbeing and activity levels, meaning they are now better able to tailor the activities and support for their clients. Night-time support, particularly sleepover supports, can now be delivered based upon whoever has the greatest need.
Barbara Aitken, Professional Lead for Social Work for the Community Directorate at the HSCP, said: “Using the ARMED solution has given us new insight into behaviours that has helped us prioritise resources. It has given our clients information that has encouraged them to become more active during the day, which in turn has helped bring about more restful sleep. ARMED is supporting us to improve wellbeing and provide person-centred care.
“Since implementing ARMED, we have seen a reduction on the pressures placed on overnight services and an improvement in clients’ confidence. This has allowed clients to gain more independence, which is vital for their wellbeing.”
Dumfries and Galloway HSCP can now use the learning from this trial on an ongoing basis to prioritise access to services.
Brian Brown, Director of ARMED, said: “We are delighted to be working with Dumfries and Galloway HSCP and to see our prevention technology yielding such fantastic results for people with intellectual difficulties.
“ARMED is now empowering individuals, in a wide range of settings, with activity data that puts them in control, whilst giving valuable insight to healthcare professionals. At this current time when people are likely to be leading more sedentary lives, this is helping to improve health and wellbeing and allowing services to be prioritised.”
