Hampshire County Council is aiming to leverage voice-activated home speaker Amazon Echo skills to assist with adult social care after budget cuts of local authorities.
Hampshire County Council has dedicated a £50,000 program through which it has given 50 Amazon Echo to assist elderly with tasks like reminding them of taking medicine and helping them to live independently.
According to the council, over 9,000 people are currently benefiting from assistive technology such as Amazon’s Echo, with 100 new referrals being made each week.
Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “We are looking to trial this new technology with 50 adult social care clients in Hampshire, to help support and manage their needs within their own homes and avoid the need for additional care packages.
"This is a world first for Hampshire County Council and our care technology partners. Working directly with Amazon will ensure our trial is backed by the experience of one of the biggest internet-based retailers in the world. We are very excited about the possibilities this project could open up in the future, and its potential to benefit the future of social care.”
Amazon recently rolled out its first Echo Spot ad which connects a lonely grandma with her.