Transforming Care at Hartland House

2​7 August 2024

H​ow Nobi's AI-powered lights reduced falls by 84%

In the picturesque setting of England's Lake District, a groundbreaking pilot at Hartland House, a residential care facility in Cumbria, is demonstrating how AI-technology can fundamentally transform elderly care. In partnership with the Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Nobi, a specialist in smart AI lighting, this pilot has led to a remarkable reduction in the number of falls among residents. As a result, the ICB has decided to invest in additional 500 Nobi installations for senior rooms across the Lancashire & South Cumbria region.

The Problem: Falls and Pressure on the Care System

Falls are the leading cause of hospital admissions in Cumbria and place a significant burden on both care staff and the NHS. With a rapidly ageing population, the healthcare system is nearing breaking point, making innovative and cost-effective solutions urgently needed. Increasing demand for NHS services has led to extended ambulance response times and overcrowded hospitals, threatening the quality of care across the UK.

The Solution: Smart AI Lighting

Hartland House, managed by the Abbeyfield Lakeland Extra Care Society, was selected for a six-month pilot in which Nobi's smart lights were installed in the rooms of eight residents with a high risk of falls. The Nobi lights are equipped with advanced optical sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), allowing them to detect and prevent falls. The system learns the movement patterns of residents and alerts caregivers when there is a risk of falling, enabling proactive care.

Impact and Results

The pilot's results were impressive. Within four months, Hartland House management decided to roll out the smart lights across the entire facility. The numbers speak for themselves: the incidence of falls was reduced by an astonishing 84%. Additionally, the system drastically cut response times to falls from an average of 57 minutes to under 2 minutes. This improvement has not only enhanced resident safety but also significantly improved their quality of life. The success of the pilot also resonated on a regional level, leading the ICB to invest in additional 500 Nobi Smart Lights for senior rooms in the Lancashire & South Cumbria region.

Broader Impact on Healthcare

The benefits of this system extend beyond Hartland House. If this technology were implemented nationally across the UK's 600,000 care home beds, it is estimated that it could prevent 1,381 falls per day and save the NHS over £156,000 every single day. This would not only relieve pressure on hospitals but also contribute to shorter hospital stays and lower healthcare costs.

What the Team Says

Leanne Scrogham, Care Manager at Hartland House, underscores the importance of this technology: "If other care homes don't get these lights, I think it will be the biggest mistake they’ll ever make. They should be in every care home in the country."

Rebecca Etherington, Health and Wellbeing Lead at Hartland House:
"Nobi's technology has been a game-changer for us. The peace of mind it provides to both our staff and the families of our residents is invaluable."

Conclusion

The pilot at Hartland House illustrates how smart technologies can play a crucial role in the future of care. By reducing falls and easing the burden on the healthcare system, Nobi's AI-powered lighting offers a powerful solution to a growing problem. This technology opens the door to a safer, more efficient, and more person-centered care environment.

For more information about Nobi, visit www.nobi.life.