RESIDENTS at six retirement housing complexes in Cumnock and the Doon Valley are set to be given the chance to shape the digital services which will support their independent living.

Bield Housing and Care has secured £75,000 in funding from the pioneering TAPPI project (Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation) which aims to improve the way technology is used across the housing and care sector.

Bield owns Warrick Court, Glebe Court, Menzies Court and Tweedlie Court in Cumnock, as well as Valley Court in Patna and Highcrofts in Dalmellington.

The funding will enable Bield to work with tenants to test different devices, apps and systems across a variety of housing settings.

Tenants will be given shared responsibility, alongside staff, to co-produce digital services to support their independent living.

Dr Lynne Douglas, Bield's CEO, said: “We are very excited to be the Scottish testbed for TAPPI.

"This has huge potential to shift thinking on how housing can be integral to new models of delivery in the integration agenda.

"Most importantly, it will be delivered together with older people to improve the outcomes that matter to them."

Tracey Howatt, director of customer experience at Bield, added: “This important funding will improve the lives of our tenants and enable us to integrate technology throughout our services.

“This will ensure that our customers can live as independently as possible, in homes that have been designed to suit their care and support requirements.”