News
Oakland Care announces state-of-the-art voice tech trial
Kirkby Diamond seals land deal for new care home
Oakland Care has announced a partnership with voice tech pioneer Vocala to explore how technology can enhance the lives of its residents.
Vocala uses devices such as Google Home
and Amazon’s Alexa to create specialist ‘smarter’ systems tailored to the specific needs of a client group, going beyond the traditional features of these devices to offer advanced functionality.
Oakland Care have partnered with Vocala as part of a six-month pilot of Alexa Smart Properties. The service will enable residents to access information, entertainment, and services such as lunch menus, visitor arrival times, and planned activities, and to raise queries and requests to team members directly with Alexa-to-Alexa calling, using only their voice.
Information will be gathered at the start of the trial from residents, families and team
members, then again at the end to measure the success. Branden Suddes, project manager at Oakland Care, said: “We’re delighted to be among the first social care providers to be trialling this innovative new technology in our care homes. As a forward-thinking organisation, we recognise the possibilities that technology can offer our care homes, both for improving resident experience and wellbeing, as well as enhancing the working lives of our team members. “It has been excellent to see the ways in which this technology can help make an important contribution to the future of social care. These specialist voice technology devices go way beyond their traditional functionality with so many features that look to be extremely beneficial for Oakland Care. We are always looking at the opportunities that products such as this can present for us.”
Not-for-profit Greensleeves Care is to develop a 60-bed care home in Milton Keynes following completion of a deal by property consultancy Kirkby Diamond. Greensleeves Care acquired a 1.2 acre site at Newport Pagnell for an undisclosed sum. In addition to 60 bedrooms, the new home will boast a ‘well-appointed day space and communal areas’. Andrew Wright, Kirkby Diamond senior partner and head of land, planning and development, said: “We are very pleased to have concluded this deal on behalf of our client and it means Newport Pagnell will get a fantastic new care home for elderly people which will be delivered by one of the best operators in the sector. “Kirkby Diamond identified the potential of the site and introduced Greensleeves Care which entered into a conditional contract to purchase the site.” Peter Dowling of Halo Care Property
acted on behalf of the purchaser and also managed the design and successful planning process. He commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with Andrew and the team at Kirkby Diamond, who have once again been an invaluable source of local knowledge and commercial expertise.”
September 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
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