Hugo Carter / Silent Windows

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Helping Senior Citizens Stay Safe with AI in 2021

Looking after the older members of our society has been in the news thanks to COVID 19 and the push to vaccinate the most vulnerable in our communities. Many of us have shared anecdotes about parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts and others deserving of a little extra attention and care over the last 12 months. For those in care homes, there have been scandalously high rates of infection to battle. Independent older people have had to manage without visitors leading to significant impacts on their mental health too. 

What are the solutions? Concerned family members have embraced digital technology. Inviting older relatives to Zoom quizzes or hangouts has become familiar for many. Regular phone calls are standard. Some have taken to ‘drive bys’ to deliver shopping and chat through windows from a safe distance.

As lockdown restrictions are eased, it is unlikely that normality will return immediately. Some relationships will have changed forever too. However much concern elderly relatives cause amongst their children, changes in living arrangements and working routines are not always going to be possible. Technology may, therefore, continue to be the answer. 

We can use communication tools to check on our relatives but does a method of discretely monitoring the elderly at other times exist? Can you, as a concerned relative, keep an eye on an independent living older family member? The answer is yes. Recently launched in the UK, Stackcare’s pioneering system is the result of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research from the heart of Silicon Valley, California, next to the likes of Google and Apple. Data scientists developed technology that can learn the behaviour of elderly members of the community who live and alone, through discrete motion sensors, and alert family members or professional caregivers should anything in that behaviour change. This includes more trips to the bathroom, fewer trips to the kitchen to eat, less sleep or more time stationary for example. Noticing these changes and raising the alarm can help spot health issues from urinirary conditions to the onset of dementia. Reporting consistent patterns of behaviour can provide reassurance all is well too.  

The ability of machines to learn has many applications when it comes to health and well being. It generally centres on an improved ability to identify patterns and, when required, raise the alarm something has changed. It could be x-rays, blood test results or MRI scans. In the case of Stackcare, the technology senses movements of the elderly around their homes, understands what is normal and then raises the alarm over inconsistencies and changes. 

Such technology is clearly going to help a lot of families looking after independent elderly relatives - even when lockdown restrictions become a thing of the past.   

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The Future of Working

The world of work is in flux. You may have found good short term home working solutions, but now might be starting to think about more workable long term options. Are you and your team adjusting successfully to remote working? Have you plans to invest in more permanent home office arrangements for your staff or are you considering adapting premises to accommodate social distancing on everyone’s return?  

A reputable commercial property company can help you find the perfect working environment with sensitivity to the current circumstances. They can help avoid any further disruption to your everyday operations and allow for a smooth transition to a new way of working. 

If you are looking into providing more work-friendly features within the home or adding practical features to an existing workspace, there are a huge array of options to choose from out there. We have compiled a handy guide to help narrow down your choices and find the right solution for you and your needs. 

An affordable (and peaceful) solution may be a small garden office. If you are short on space, the Jay small garden office pod is perfect. Compact and unobtrusive, it is an imaginative way to use space that includes everything you need to work efficiently and comfortably. 

An additional en-suite bathroom could help you reduce the need to share facilities at home or in the office. Having all your mod cons to hand helps keep you free of distractions as well as 2m apart. Take the stress out of a bathroom project by hiring a reputable company. Another bonus: you have a separate bathroom general visitors might enjoy once they are allowed to return. 

There are some great options that help to create a workspace at home that involves less intrusive building work. New glazing, especially specialist double glazing for listed buildings, preserves the original character of your home while cutting outside noise. This creates an oasis of calm suitable for the homeworker. However, it is important to choose an installation company that understands the rules, regulations and processes.  

If you want to decrease noise levels within your home or office, a soundproof front door is also a fantastic option that enhances the look and atmosphere of your home. The right soundproof doors provide high levels of protection and thermal efficiency too. 

All the above are worth considering for your properties as the worlds of work and home life continue to change.

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Creating a Way of Flexible Working Productively

It’s great if you have a company that can afford to rent or buy a commercial property. A reputable commercial property company can find you the perfect working environment in which to operate a successful business. If you feel like your current office is outdated, perhaps it is time to bring in an office refurbishment company who can make the best use of the space you have. New premises can do wonders for motivating employees. Perhaps you’re looking for a slight change - a happy middle-ground for you, your family and your work? 

Working remotely from home for even a small part of the week can be a godsend. Just two days a week where you don’t have to go into the office - when you don’t have to get on to a squashed tube or wait in the rain for a delayed train - can do wonders for your mental well being and family life. 

However, there is also the noisy, boisterous hustle and bustle of family life to consider. Traffic outside, children playing, a neighbour who seems to constantly have workmen in to do house renovations can upset any peaceful work environment as you adjust to it. You can achieve the best of working at home if you can create a little oasis of calm for yourself within the cacophony. While still feeling connected, comfortable and efficient in a garden office all your own. 

If you are more city-based, rather than a garden office, you may be thinking of converting a room in your house, in that case, you should seriously consider soundproof glass to mitigate traffic and street noise. If you need a definitive guide to soundproofing your home Silent Windows has some great information on their website. You don’t want to upset your day-to-day normal family too much so these adjustments should make homeworking that little bit easier.

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Coping with city living… How to soundproof your home.

City living has plenty of perks, especially in London. Being at the centre of it all can feel like a dream come true. Until your upstairs neighbours have a baby, or the flight path changes, or your beautiful new period home lets all of the noise from outside in. How do you cope with the noise pollution, and can a soundproof front door really make that much of a difference to your life?

Soundproof windows can change your life.

We’re not exaggerating. Imagine coming home after a long day of work, and not being able to relax, having disturbed sleep and never finding peace in your own home. The effects of noise pollution on our health is well documented. Exposure to prolonged or excessive noise can cause stress, fatigue from sleep deprivation and even cardiovascular disease. Your home should be a place to rest and relax, regardless of the weather, the threat of burglary or the noise outside.

There are three simple ways to ensure that your property is soundproofed.

Fill any cracks or holes in the walls. Simply using expanding foam can help. However, if there are holes that are necessary, in case of electric cables then be sure to call in an expert. Always use a certified electrician.

Seal your external door, or upgrade to a solid one. Hollow doors will need bulking up with panels.

Replace your windows and doors. Double glazing, whilst more efficient than single, is not technically an acoustic dampener, and you will need to bring in an expert to replace the windows and doors throughout the property.

However, if you wanted to stick with the DIY route, ceilings, walls, floors and decor can all contribute to reducing draughts and noise. Saving you money on your energy bills and keeping heat and noise in. Rugs, carpets, heavy curtains can all help. Placing larger pieces of furniture on adjoining walls will keep neighbours at bay. Window boxes and shutters will bring some elegance to your home as well as provide a barrier from the outside, as well as noise coming upwards.

Ultimately soundproof windows crafted and installed by a professional will not only complement the aesthetic of your property, even if it is a period home, but will also keep unwanted noise out, and in- which means you can get raucous every Friday night! A soundproof front door will also provide an extra security barrier, ensuring that you sleep soundly at night without fear of crime. Bifold doors at the back of your property can be a sound investment in security and style. Bringing the outside, in. Enjoy your garden- it’s a luxury in the city after all!

City living doesn’t have to be hectic. Hugo Carter & Silent Windows have been reducing noise pollution in homes around the country for years. Their expert research and technical skills, coupled with bespoke products made from the finest materials will ensure that your home is set to be the most comfortable it could possibly be. And as every single product they craft is made to fit your needs you can be as specific as your circumstances require.