East Sussex City Coucil Milton Grange Evaluation (Living Lab)

The Milton Grange Living Lab is a collaborative initiative between the University of Brighton and East Sussex County Council, exploring how digital technologies can enhance wellbeing, communication, and care quality in residential care environments. As part of the University’s wider Digital Health Living Lab network, the project applies a co-creation and real-world evaluation approach, embedding research directly within the daily practice of care staff and residents.
At Milton Grange, the Living Lab evaluated three key technologies:
- an electronic care record system aimed at improving documentation accuracy, information sharing, and workflow efficiency.
- Robotic companion pets, designed to reduce social isolation and anxiety while supporting emotional wellbeing among residents.
- Smart interactive televisions, which provide personalised entertainment, information access, and social engagement opportunities through an intuitive, accessible interface.

Using focus groups, staff feedback sessions, and observational data, the project examined how these technologies influence resident experience, staff confidence, and overall care delivery. Findings highlight the importance of digital inclusion, training, and leadership engagement for successful implementation.
The Milton Grange Living Lab demonstrates how a participatory, evidence-based approach can guide ethical and sustainable digital transformation in adult social care, generating insights that inform both local practice and national strategies for technology-enabled, person-centred care.

The Milton Grange Living Lab demonstrated how digital technologies can meaningfully enhance both resident wellbeing and staff experience when implemented through a collaborative, user-centred approach.
- Digital record system: The introduction of Care Vision improved the visibility and accuracy of resident information, strengthened communication between care teams and external professionals, and supported more efficient handovers and care planning. Staff valued the accessibility of real-time data but emphasised the need for ongoing digital training and reliable connectivity.
- Robotic companion pets: The robotic pets generated strong positive emotional responses, promoting comfort, social interaction, and reminiscence among residents, particularly those living with dementia. Staff observed noticeable mood improvements and reduced agitation during engagement sessions, indicating their value as a therapeutic tool in daily care routines.
- Smart interactive televisions: The smart TVs enabled greater resident engagement, providing entertainment, cognitive stimulation, and opportunities for connection with family and community. Their use supported a sense of autonomy and inclusion, helping reduce isolation and boredom in communal and private spaces.

Across all technologies, the Living Lab identified staff involvement, co-design, and digital confidence as critical enablers of successful adoption. Findings from Milton Grange are now informing East Sussex County Council’s broader digital transformation strategy and contributing to regional evidence on technology-enabled, person-centred care.