A BLOCK of retirement flats has become a test bed for internet-connected devices which could help improve the health of older people.

Tenants of Leach Court in Kemp Town, Brighton, have volunteered to try out a range of different technologies to see how they can help as part of a Living Laboratory project.

They include medication dispensers, activity monitors and falls detectors.

Residents can either carry equipment with them or they are built into their homes.

It is hoped the information collected will help the individual and also their families and their GPs.

Specialists from the universities of Brighton and Sussex joined professionals from Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group and Kent, and Surrey and the Sussex Academic Health Science Network to explain the aims of the project to residents.

It is being led by Theo Fotis, principal lecturer at the University of Brighton.

He said: “The aim of the project is to empower citizens to better manage their own health at a time when restrictions on funding make it hard to provide the level of quality healthcare needed for an ageing population.

“The uniqueness of the project is we are working in the community, with the community, and for the community to provide stakeholders with a tool to accelerate digital health innovation.”

This first stage of the project is building the infrastructure, testing the new technologies and sharing the residents’ experiences with university academics, doctors and technology industry experts.

There are also plans to explore the possibility of further technological development in collaboration with commercial partners.

Leach Court resident Jean Murray said: “We’re so proud our home has been chosen for the test bed.

“I’ve really enjoyed all of the conversations with the professionals so far, and I am looking forward to what we can do together.”

Neighbour Marion Walker said: “It’s a great thing.

“Sometimes we older ones get ignored so it’s good they want to listen to us.”

This first stage of the project is building the infrastructure, testing the new technologies and sharing the residents’ experiences with university academics, doctors and technology industry experts.

There are also plans to explore the possibility of further technological development in collaboration with commercial partners.

Melissa Ream from the Health Science Network said: “We’re not just talking about whizzy gadgets.

“It is about keeping our older citizens healthier and out of hospital.”