Impact Jersey is awarding up to £2m to tech-focused projects that can help transform the lives of the island’s ageing population.
A CareTech Challenge is calling on individuals, start-ups and established organisations to come up with ideas that can empower older people to live safely and independently at home.
The number of islanders aged 65 and above is set to grow 30% within 16 years (by 2040), including a 50% increase in the number of people living into their 80s and beyond. By the age of 65, over half of Jersey’s islanders live with one or more long-term health conditions; by the age of 85 the majority of people will have two or more long-term health conditions. Jersey has a resident population of over 103,000 people.
Broadband connections in Jersey are gigabit fibre to the premises (FTTP). It also benefits from three separate 4G networks, island-wide 5G launching this summer, and dedicated Internet of Things (IoT) networks, making it a testbed for companies looking to demonstrate technologies.
‘As one of the world’s most digitally connected jurisdictions, Jersey is primed to seize the opportunities that new technologies offer our citizens, enabling Islanders to enjoy life and retain their independence for longer. The CareTech Challenge will help us achieve this goal,’ said Jersey’s minister for sustainable economic development, deputy Kirsten Morel.
Its government has identified priorities that Impact Jersey will focus on, such as improving the island’s productivity, housing needs, health and wellbeing, responding to the climate emergency and ensuring islanders have the right skills.
Tony Moretta, chief executive at Digital Jersey, responsible for delivering Impact Jersey, said: ‘We have the opportunity, right now in Jersey, to transform how we support health and care for our older citizens, delivering better outcomes for them by enabling new and scaling technologies that leverage cutting-edge advances. Not only will these solutions benefit islanders, but Jersey can be the testbed for these technologies to support older people around the world.’
The challenge is looking for technology-based approaches that help older people to live safely in their own homes, help them to stay connected with their communities, and to support carers in their roles. Technologies must also help cut the demand on Jersey’s healthcare system.