Innovation

We encouraged residents to wear supportive outdoor shoes indoors, with families helping swap slippers for better support. Over three months, we saw a reduction in falls, showing how small changes can make a big difference.

Borough Care works in partnership with Vegetarian for Life to support residents who follow vegetarian or vegan diets. Vegetarian for Life is a UK charity that promotes and supports plant-based living among older people, offering guidance, training, and resources to ensure nutritional needs and personal choices are respected in care settings.

We trialled gel-based and non-gel finger foods, plus milkshakes, to make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable for residents with dementia. After a successful trial, these are now available at all our homes and Apetito rolled the initiative out nationwide.

We trialled a device under residents’ beds to track vital signs and sleep patterns, helping staff spot potential issues early. While the trial didn’t provide data, it offered valuable lessons to guide future projects and partnerships.

We partnered with Nobi to trial around 40 AI ceiling lamps designed to improve sleep and detect falls. Nobi Smart Lights use artificial intelligence to monitor rooms and support safer living. The trial ran for several months, collecting data on falls and sleep. However, the lamps were not found to be effective in our Borough Care homes, and the partnership was not continued.

An AI smartphone app that assesses pain for residents who can’t verbalise discomfort, helping teams manage pain more effectively. Trial results were positive and the project was rolled out to all homes in May 2026.

Trials of non-toxic, plant-based cleaning products are helping us reduce chemical use while keeping homes safe, fresh, and healthy. This was successful and implemented in all Borough Care homes in late 2025.

We are trialling a refreshed staffing structure designed to give more person-centred care, more purposeful activities, and extra time for every resident. The current trial concludes in 2026 and if successful may be rolled out across all our homes.

Ellyfe are developing a wearable device that measures cellular hydration, helping prevent dehydration, falls, and related health issues. It was developed by a team who were winners of the 2023 National Care Forum’s Innovation Challenge, of which Borough Care are proud sponsors. Borough Care become mentors for the Ellyfe team and supported them in undertaking trials in a number of our homes. The product is still in trail and development stage and we are excited for its future.