Assistive tech firm selected to develop innovation to support the elderly & vulnerable during pandemic
Telecare specialist Alcuris has been successful in their Techforce19 competition submission and will now progress to the next stage in the hope of achieving a national, wide-scale rollout.
Led by NHSX and managed by PUBLIC, the Techforce19 contest was launched in the wake of the coronavirus in a bid to quickly create a pool of technologies to help support the elderly and vulnerable who are self-isolating by calling on technology innovators.
With 1,600 applications to the competition, only 18 companies were successful to progress to the next stage.
Alcuris, a specialist in assistive technology in the telecare segment, were successful in the remote care category.
Known for its advanced Memo wireless hub and insights system, the company’s technology was judged and approved by the competition’s panel on the basis of solution feasibility, company credibility, impact, and digital maturity.
Its Memo system detects residents daily living patterns using wireless sensors across the home to learn what is normal, enabling it to accurately highlight when something is out of the ordinary before a situation escalates to a crisis.
Alex Nash, Managing Director of Alcuris, said: “We are thrilled with the outcome of the selection process and are excited to be working with NHSX, its partners and our Service Provider partners on the next phase of the Techforce19 project.
“We look forward to making our contribution to support older and vulnerable people, their families, and Social Care during the Covid19 crisis.
“I am immensely proud of the Alcuris team who have been developing the Memo Hub and Next Generation Telecare services over the last two years.”
The 18 successful companies will now take part in a rapid testing phase to demonstrate how their solutions can be deployed to specifically meet COVID-19 needs.
The types of impact measures that will be considered ahead of decisions on national rollout include access, use of technologies, and feedback from vulnerable groups regarding feelings of loneliness, safety, and support.
This testing phase will last for two to three weeks and be followed by an assessment to better understand the potential and scope for an accelerated and wider rollout.
Alcuris confirmed it will work with partners Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), East Lothian HSCP, South Tyneside Council, and Stockton on Tees Borough Council.
Shaun Taylor, OneCall Registered Manager, Stockton on Tees Borough Council said: “OneCall are delighted to be partnering with Alcuris in a project designed to look after the client’s wellbeing, reduce family anxiety and help Adult Social Care get a clearer understanding of the individuals care needs in these unprecedented, most challenging of times.”