Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

'Smart home' technology may change life for those with severe mental illnesses: Local researchers

High-tech smart home devices could be helpful in keeping people with severe mental illnesses living safely and happily on their own, London researchers say.

A study team at Lawson Health Research Institute – the research arm of London’s hospitals – has outfitted eight affordable housing units at Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex and London and Middlesex Community Housing with smart home devices.

Smart home technology available on the market allows people to control remotely many things – including home security systems, heating and lighting – with their smartphone or computer. Researchers have adapted the remote technology to meet the needs of vulnerable patients who have difficulty managing everyday tasks on their own.

“This isn’t just for anyone with mental illness,” said Cheryl Forchuk, who led the smart home project. “They have severe mental illness, they often have other physical health problems. They have problems with memory or organization.”

Study participants will have access to several different high-tech devices, including smartphones and touch-screen monitors for video-conferencing with their care providers, questionnaires and care plan reminders. Depending on the patient’s individual needs, the smart home units  also may have automated medication dispensers and weigh scales, blood pressure monitors and blood sugar monitoring devices connected to the system.

Study participants also may get text message reminders to take their medication or use tracking monitors to measure heart rate, physical activity and sleep patterns.

The private data is relayed remotely to the patient’s team of health care providers. The research team is using computer programs developed by InputHealth, a medical technology company already involved in another Lawson pilot project to test if a mobile app improves mental health access for youth.

“This test is really interesting because these represent major gaps in health care delivery,” said Puneet Seth, chief medical officer at InputHealth. “These are some of the most vulnerable populations that there are so if there’s a way in which our platform can be meaningfully helpful to those populations, all the better.”

With every device and digital platform, the team is taking steps to make sure personal health data is stored and transferred securely, Forchuk said.

The study will test how effective the high-tech intervention is at improving overall patient wellbeing and reducing repeat psychiatric hospital admissions and emergency room visits for mental health reasons.
Researchers tested out the smart home concept at two in-hospital, apartment-style units at St. Joseph’s Health Care London before rolling it out into the community. If the research project proves successful, the digital strategy could be expanded to more patients, Forchuk said.

Four people already are enrolled in the study, which will take more than a year to complete.

This project is funded through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research – the federal agency that funds health and medical studies – the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and Age-Well, a national aging and technology association.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×