Your House Is Watching You. For Your Health.

Dorset, a county in southwestern England with a rich history, is trying something revolutionary. The Dorset Council has teamed up with Lilli to pilot a new AI system that could change social care forever. 

As part of a three-month pilot, Lilli will use this AI to closely monitor one hundred people who require social care (the elderly, disabled, etc.). Lilli will track things like behavior and electricity usage and then analyze the data to spot any potential health problems. 

“We are pleased to partner with Lilli on this important pilot. It was the potential to improve provision across Dorset and our partner organizations in the NHS, making sure we are able to support people safely in their own homes and they can be discharged from hospital using the D2A (discharge to assess) pathway to support their ongoing recovery,” said Piers Brown, lead member for Health at Dorset Council. 

Tracking Patterns and Behavior

The AI will use “machine learning” via sensors in the home to analyze data such as temperature, motion, electrical use, etc. in order to determine a pattern. If an individual deviates from this pattern, the AI makes a note of it and makes a connection with a health professional to check in on the individual. 

For example, frequent nightly trips to the bathroom could indicate an underlying health issue. Lilli would recognize that change in behavior and raise a flag. This would allow health professionals to get on top of the issue early and find a potential treatment. 

“We’ll look at how often they put the kettle on, how often they open the fridge. Because we’re monitoring on an individual level, we would see small changes in behavior,” says Nick Weston, chief commercial officer at Lilli. 

“Using this technology, over-stretched health and social care providers can intervene earlier while monitoring at a distance, reducing the need for hospital admissions or residential care and lowering costs. 

“Tech will not replace care by humans… it will improve it.” 

Machine learning has also been useful in other medically-based AI systems. 

Healthcare From Home

The results so far? Positive. 

“We are thrilled with the initial success of this pilot with Dorset,” Weston stated. 

“An authority that understands how data-driven, smart technology can help providers make better informed, more effective decisions about patient needs and resource allocation, improving the outcomes and saving lives.” 

Dr. Big Brother?

Lilli requires written consent from either the enrolled patient or a legal guardian prior to installation. Only available to health care providers, the data is encrypted and stored, like any medical record.

Anyone who has read George Orwell’s 1984 may read this news with a bit of side-eye. It may feel uncomfortable to have a computer monitor how often you pee at night. Understandably so. But the flip side is that you have a system monitoring behavior you may not fully be aware of. 

The key healthcare is early detection and prevention. Think of your personal healthcare like a series of photographs. One check up a year is sufficient, but it is a series of images with large gaps in between. Lilli is filling in those gaps, turning the photographs into a movie. 

Staying current and on top of your health allows for greater control and ultimately a fuller life. Lilli is still in the testing phase, but if Dorset is any indication, then we may have a peek into the future of healthcare.