A Kendal businessman and entrepreneur is developing a new device to help older people to remain independent, enjoy their life and strengthen relationships with family and friends.
The Senior-Hub is a multi-functional, 10.5” digital tablet, which will come pre-loaded and pre-configured, with simple-to-use applications to enhance the lives of elderly people and help them stay in touch with their loved-ones and friends.
It has been designed and is being developed by Nick Birchall, of Kendal, who came up with the idea while looking after his father, who was finding it increasingly difficult to use his existing laptop.
“Many people told me they struggled using modern technology, that laptops were too big, mobile phones were too small – and issues with passwords are common,” said Mr Birchall, 57.
“The Senior-Hub will be ready to go straight out of the box. It will offer seniors various ways to interact, send and receive voice or video calls, emails and photographs, access the internet or simply check the weather, all through easy-to-use, pre-configured applications, which require nothing more than simple, intuitive, swipe-click motions.”
Friends, family, home care workers or medical professionals will be able to interact with a Senior-Hub via any smart phone, tablet or laptop.
“It includes a Wellness-Centre application, which can be accessed remotely and represents an opportunity for health care professionals to deliver a more personalised service to home care clients,” explained Mr Birchall. “A biography about the person and background details about their condition and needs can be put in the Wellness Centre, so that different carers do not need to keep asking the same questions.
“Home care workers will also be able to record their visits on the Senior-Hub and family members will be able to access these notes remotely to keep them informed.”
Additional functionality included within the Senior-Hub allows for the connection of the third party Ring video doorbell system, which greatly improves the home security of seniors and gives them direct contact with visitors from the security within the home. “Subscription to the Ring app allows family members remote access so they can speak to the visitors if necessary,” said Mr Birchall, who has a background in electronics and developing software databases.
Other features include an emergency alert button, which sends immediate text and email alerts to pre-determined contacts; a calendar, with audible alerts (“Don’t forget your doctor’s appointment this afternoon”) if desired; and a gallery, accessed by a simple button click, where all the photographs and videos sent by family and friends are stored.
The idea for Senior-Hub came to Mr Birchall in 2017 while he was caring for his late father, Peter, who used to run an accountancy firm in Bowness and was the village’s postmaster.
“He had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and required oxygen,” said Mr Birchall.
“He was finding it harder to contact his circle of friends by email and got frustrated with the cumbersome nature of his laptop and passwords and the steps required to do simple things like searching the internet.
“He had a close friend in Liverpool and I realised they had not spoken for a year. I just felt it would be better if he had more stimulation and could talk to someone more often. For example, if you can do a simple video call you can see the person in front of you, have a brew with them and actually see how well they look and are doing.”
After his father died, Mr Birchall decided to go back to the drawing board and create a device which could incorporate all the benefits of digital technology without the drawbacks of having to carry out multiple steps to use it. He is working with Alan Jewitt, whose Kendal-based company SYPO has a team of web and technical specialists, to develop Senior-Hub.
“Alan and his specialist team have worked hard over the last 12 months to develop the product. Together we have covered a lot of ground from the original concept stage and we are looking to have the beta product available for trials later in the year”, said Mr Birchall.
He said he was ‘passionate’ about the device, which potentially has an international market.
“It’s all about allowing people to interact better. I believe Senior-Hub could be of great benefit to seniors, to their families and also to the home care sector.”
To find out more about Senior-Hub, contact Nick Birchall on 077641 87476 or email [email protected] or visit the website www.senior-hub.net
