Surrey County Council opens new homes to support independent living with helpful assistive tech

New purpose-built homes have been opened by Surrey County Council to support residents to live independently in the community, with the help of Alexa.

The property, containing nine homes, helps people with learning disabilities and autism to live independently and is the result of a collaboration between care provider Active Prospects, Surrey County Council and the NHS.

Many of the residents were previously housed in long-term hospital or residential care and can now live independently in their own home.

Support staff are always available and the homes incorporate the latest in assistive technology including Amazon Alexa devices which can help with tasks such as creating shopping lists and calling on key workers.

These new homes support Surrey County Council’s aim of reducing the number of people with a learning disability or autism in residential care by 40-50 percent over the next five years.

Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health, said: “Everyone already seems so settled and happy in their new homes, which is great to see. The homes and the environment, including the garden, will encourage independent living.

“When I get the opportunity to come out and see great providers, such as Active Prospects, it becomes a lot more real for us, Surrey County Council, with our ambitious supported housing scheme plans.

“All young people relish opportunities to achieve their goals and take on responsibilities – with the right level of support that can be possible for everyone and that’s what we’re seeking to achieve.

“As a council, we’re changing what we do and how services are delivered to make sure we reflect the ways our residents live. Residents who need our help will be supported to live as independently as they can, for as long as they can, in their communities.”