Government hopes new assistive tech funding will reduce hospitalizations and long-term care costs, especially for ageing population
New Tech, Old Problem: Ageing Population Spurs Investment
Scotland has announced a substantial increase in funding for digital care solutions within social housing, more than doubling its support for a programme aimed at helping older tenants live independently.
The Registered Social Landlords (RSL) Adaptations Programme will receive £20.9 million over the next year—up from £8.2 million—according to an announcement by Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville during a visit to the Bield Housing Association’s Tech Hub in Linlithgow.
The funding boost reflects a shift in strategy from reactive healthcare provision to preventative, digitally enabled support, especially as Scotland confronts mounting demographic pressures.
“Scotland faces significant challenges as our population ages,” Somerville said. “It is preventative, people-focused approaches like this that will help us deliver better outcomes for older people while making the best use of public resources.”
Why Tech Matters in Social Care
Assistive technology—ranging from motion sensors to medication reminders and remote emergency response systems—is being increasingly integrated into social housing to support tenants with complex health needs.
Officials and providers argue that such innovations cut costs, reduce pressure on hospitals, and give older people greater autonomy.
Debbie Collins, chief executive of Bield, reinforced that message:
“Investing in the right housing and technology supports older people to manage their health, stay connected, and live independently.”
She added that care tech helps reduce reliance on formal care and prevents avoidable hospital admissions, which are both expensive and disruptive to the lives of older tenants.
A Strategic Shift in Public Health Spending
The adaptation programme, overseen by the Scottish Government in partnership with housing associations, enables modifications to properties that make them more suitable for older or disabled residents.
Historically, this meant stairlifts or walk-in showers. Increasingly, however, it includes smart home technology designed to anticipate and respond to residents’ health and safety risks.
From passive sensors that alert caregivers to changes in behaviour patterns to systems that notify family members when appliances haven’t been used, the tech on offer is expanding rapidly.
“We believe housing must be seen as part of the health and care infrastructure,” Collins said. “Continued investment in digital solutions and accessible homes not only improves lives but delivers public value by saving money in the long term.”
Investment Details at a Glance
| Year | RSL Adaptations Programme Budget | Percentage Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | £8.2 million | — |
| 2025–26 | £20.9 million | +155% |
The announcement comes amid rising concerns in the NHS about bed-blocking, where elderly patients ready for discharge remain in hospital due to a lack of safe home environments or care support.
By improving the technological capabilities of social housing stock, the Scottish Government aims to ensure faster hospital discharges and reduce the burden on long-term residential care.
Housing and Health: A Joined-Up Vision?
While the funding increase has been welcomed by stakeholders, it also signals a broader policy change: treating housing not simply as shelter, but as an integral component of public health planning.
That vision has been promoted by care innovators and think tanks for over a decade but has often been hindered by fragmented responsibilities between health boards and local authorities.
With this announcement, ministers are attempting to create a more unified model, where housing associations become delivery partners in the health and care ecosystem.
Key policy goals include:
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Extending independent living among elderly and disabled tenants
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Reducing reliance on care homes and hospital stays
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Using data-driven tech to monitor wellbeing remotely
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Ensuring social housing adapts to an ageing population
Looking Ahead: From Pilot to National Strategy?
The success of projects like the Bield Tech Hub will likely serve as templates for wider rollout.
Bield’s Linlithgow site has been held up as a leading example of how tech can transform older people’s lives. It includes live demos of digital support systems, virtual assistant technology, and training spaces for staff and residents.
Housing providers and health leaders alike see the potential for such hubs to support wider cultural and operational change—normalising the use of assistive technology not as a novelty but as standard practice in older people’s housing.
The new funding may also accelerate the adoption of remote monitoring, a controversial but increasingly accepted tool in social care. Privacy concerns remain, but backers argue that such systems can detect early signs of illness or injury and trigger interventions long before a crisis occurs.
With demand for social care services rising and the cost of long-term care outpacing inflation, governments across the UK are watching Scotland’s experiment closely.
