Technology


Smart technology: helping to put the care into care homes


Ian Ellis, marketing manager at Siemens Buildings, looks at how automated building management systems can provide increased comfort for residents and greater efficiencies for care providers


For buildings in general, recent years have seen an ever-increasing focus on making their environments more people- centric, recognising the needs of users and introducing processes to assist with those needs. A central contributor to this has been automation, with building management systems (BMS) providing increased comfort and greater efficiencies through monitoring and controlling functions such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and security.


The term ‘smart building’ is regularly


used to describe the adoption of technology to create a safe and comfortable environment for building occupants. This is no longer an approach confined to only the most prestigious of buildings in major cities using the latest IoT technologies with all the building services working together. In truth, any building can be smart, irrespective of its size. So, bearing that in mind, it is easy to see why care homes are increasingly adopting a smart approach, recognising the benefits that building automation can


bring to residents, as well as providing a means for cost savings to be realised by care home owners through improved energy efficiencies.


A fundamental contribution to care home wellbeing When you consider the fundamental role of a care home, it is pretty obvious why a BMS approach is particularly pertinent. The clue is in the name: a care home’s basic requirement is to provide care for its residents, providing support for their health and wellbeing. The control that a BMS can provide in creating an environment conducive to achieving that is therefore more important than in many other buildings. Research suggests that the majority of people spend some 90 per cent of their time indoors. In care homes, it is much higher – often 100 per cent – so the indoor environment becomes even more of a focus. Given that many residents have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to environmental


factors, the fact that pollution is typically 2-5 times higher in indoor spaces takes on even greater significance. Yet it is often overlooked. A significant improvement in indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the main benefits that a BMS can bring, helping to maintain residents’ overall health, comfort and quality of life.


Poor air quality can have severe repercussions on the respiratory health of elderly individuals, particularly those with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cardiovascular diseases. Airborne pollutants such as dust, mould spores, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and PM2.5 fine particulate matter (microscopic dust particles) can exacerbate symptoms and lead to the need for more regular medical intervention. It is not only physical health that can be affected by air quality; studies have shown that it can also have a profound impact on cognitive function. Prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution can lead to cognitive decline, reduced concentration levels, and increased risk of dementia – all issues which are obviously of real concern in the care of the elderly.


Studies suggest that 40-60 per cent


relative humidity is ideal for indoor human health and reducing virus vitality. With each person delivering approximately eight litres of air per minute through breathing, the released air contains CO2 and aerosols. CO2


plus droplets levels should be kept below


a certain level, and, with a BMS system that automatically monitors and controls fresh air, this can help to enhance mental clarity, reduce stress levels, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of residents.


Reducing infection spread An effective BMS can also help to reduce the spread of infection. Care home owners and those who work in them know only too well the speed with which infections


July 2025 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 27


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