The social value of smart homes

Smart home technology has the potential to significantly improve the lives of people with disabilities while also making savings for funding agencies like the NDIS, according to recent research from Flinders University.

The analysis, led by a team at the University’s Caring Futures Institute, found that home automation had a positive impact on independence and quality of life, and reduced reliance on caregivers. This provides a compelling case for the technology to be prioritised in funding support decisions, the researchers said.

“Serious long-term injury or disability may impact on a person’s ability to manage independently within their home, but home automation technology can help to control a number of household functions including opening and closing doors and blinds, operating heating and cooling, and turning lights on and off,” said lead author Dr Claire Hutchinson from Flinders’ College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Despite this, many people have difficulty obtaining approval for home automation through funding agencies, or they face lengthy delays, so we wanted to see if we could quantify their benefit.”

In their analysis, published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, the researchers calculated the social value (or money saved for society) of the technology by comparing monetary figures based on different levels of home automation support.

In the simplest scenario — installation of automation for heating and cooling, lights, blinds and television operation — the analysis found that for every $1 invested there was a social value of $38.80.

As the technology became more complicated, the social return on investment decreased; however, even the most complex scenario, involving automated doors, intercom and automated taps and showers, still returned $15.10 worth of social value on each dollar invested.

“Even the most expensive systems provide enough social value to repay the investment within the first year,” Hutchinson said.

One of the key savings identified in the analysis was the reduction in the need for caregiving hours, either by family members or professional carers.

“Home automation allows individuals to perform more tasks independently and this not only lowers the costs associated with care but also empowers people with disabilities to live more autonomous lives,” said co-author Professor Kate Laver from Flinders’ College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The authors said the findings were significant for policymakers, healthcare providers and funding bodies.

“Our study showed that by investing in home automation there are a number of tangible outcomes; not just the reduction in caregiver hours, but also improved mental health and wellbeing, increased social connections, increased dignity and improved physical and psychological safety,” Laver said.

“Focusing on the financial savings in care attendant hours alone should be compelling evidence for funders to recognise home automation’s value,” she added.

“But even beyond that outcome, the benefits are clear and along with the potential to improve quality of life, our study provides clear economic justification to support continued funding and expansion of these assistive technologies.”

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