Mayor’s tech-led care helps residents live safely at home

When Diane Vukmirovic fell in her back garden, she broke her wrist and was left lying on the ground in pain, calling out and hoping someone would hear her.

Now, the 75-year-old from Wolverhampton feels confident living independently again.

Diane is one of almost 1,000 residents taking part in a Technology Enabled Care programme led by Mayor Richard Parker, designed to help older and vulnerable people across the West Midlands stay safe in their own homes for longer.

The programme is part of the Mayor’s plan to modernise social care across the region. It is being delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority through its digital delivery arm, WM5G, working in partnership with adult social care teams in Wolverhampton, Coventry and Birmingham.

The Mayor visited Diane at her home this week to see how the technology is supporting her day-to-day life following her fall.

Mayor Richard Parker with Diane Vukmirovic at her home in Wolverhampton.

Diane said: “Having this technology around my home is really empowering. It gives me the confidence to carry on with everyday life, knowing that if I fall help will come.

“When I fell in the garden there was nobody here and it was scary. Now, with my pendant, watch or tablet, I can alert my care provider or my sons at the touch of a button. I am independent but I’m also getting frailer so having that peace of mind means everything.”

The technology includes motion sensors, cameras, GPS smart watches and virtual care devices that provide round-the-clock monitoring and rapid alerts if something goes wrong.

Mayor Richard Parker said: “Meeting Diane at her home shows exactly why this programme matters. It’s about helping people feel safe, confident and able to live independently for longer.

“For residents like Diane, this technology offers peace of mind. For councils, it helps reduce avoidable hospital admissions and eases pressure on frontline social care services. That’s better care for people and a more sustainable system overall.”

Meet Diane who is one of 1,000 residents who are part of the Tech Enabled Care programme.

Early results show the programme can delay the need for higher and more expensive levels of care, reduce hospital admissions, and save councils up to £1,200 per person each week. Participating councils have already seen savings of almost £1 million, while freeing up staff time to support growing demand.

Cllr Stephen Simkins, Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “This pilot is showing how digital care can make a real difference to people’s lives. Working with the Mayor together we’re making a real difference to the lives of residents like Diane in Wolverhampton. We’re helping them stay safe and independent at home, while reducing avoidable demand on services. This technology-enabled care gives us a practical and sustainable way to meet rising care costs and protect frontline teams.”

Robert Franks, Managing Director at WM5G, said: “The learning from this programme is creating a clear blueprint for how technology-enabled care can be scaled across the West Midlands and beyond.

“By working closely with councils, partners and local citizens, we are demonstrating how digital approaches can enhance care, support independence and help services respond to rising demand. This collaborative model is already shaping the design of complementary initiatives, including Digital Discharge, and provides a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable transformation of health and social care across the region.”

The programme also supports the Mayor’s Growth Plan, which identifies health technology as a sector with strong potential to improve lives while creating high-quality jobs across the West Midlands. The region is already one of the UK’s best connected for 5G, and the Mayor wants that strength used to support residents where it matters most.

Data from the programme will now be used to explore how the approach can be expanded to support more people across the West Midlands.

For Diane, the impact is already clear: the confidence to carry on with everyday life, knowing help will come if she needs it.