Last Updated: November 3, 2025
Family carer Ian, shares his story about caring for his elderly mother, and how he has used modern technology to support her independence at home.
My mum, Rosalie, is extremely independent. She’s now in her late 90s and is very happy in her own home that she’s lived in for years. This set up works well for her and she’s got a strong support network nearby; I live a few miles away and my sister and son (as well as her great grandkids!) are close too.
Small changes in the home
We’re a close family, so we all visit and call frequently. Despite this, as she was getting older, I have to admit I was getting increasingly worried about how she was doing and if she was still fine to be living alone. I found myself wondering if she’d got up in the morning, or if she’d made her breakfast. She’s always been confident she doesn’t want formal carers unless absolutely necessary and so I wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to support her as best as we can as a family.
We’ve made a series of little adjustments to her home over the years to help with things like mobility. My mum has now got a stairlift, and we’ve put in a downstairs toilet too. These things have all supported her to stay living in the house she loves.
The Lilli App
However, one of the more recent changes that has made a big difference has been putting in some little home sensors which gives us data on her daily activity through an app. The app, called Lilli, monitors things like mobility, eating, drinking, bathroom activity, time outside and sleep. It tells us if her activities are expected or if anything is unusual, like less eating or drinking. So I no longer need to worry if she’s got out of bed or made a cup of tea – I can get reassurance through my phone with helpful insights into her day.
There are no cameras or microphones in this technology – things which my mum would not have been keen on. She still has complete privacy and dignity, but we also have peace of mind that she’s getting on with her day as usual. Rather than calling to ask if she’s eaten, I know she has as Lilli will tell me the fridge opened at 7:30am, so I can focus on how her day has been.
Technology as a tool for carers
Another clever thing about Lilli is that I can see the temperature in the home. Recently, during the heatwave, I noticed my mum’s house was far too hot and she hadn’t been moving. We could quickly react to this and unfortunately she had got a bit sick in the heat, but we got her help as quickly as possible. Without knowing this, it might have taken us much longer to realise there was an issue. Although she does have a pendant, she often doesn’t have it on her so it’s helpful this doesn’t require mum to wear or do anything. It just quietly monitors the environment, passively in the background.
There would never be a time that an app would replace visiting mum, or calling her regularly. But what technology like this can do is help people like my mum live the independent life they want, while giving families peace of mind that everything is ok. It’s really helped to unlock a mental load to be able to see that my mum is sticking to her usual routine – and knowing that, if something changes, I’ll know about it quickly. And we’re all delighted she can continue living in the place she loves for as long as possible.
About Ian
Ian lives in Wales, where he is enjoying his retirement surrounded by family and friends. He is also a carer to his mother, who he supports to live independently in her own home.
