A SEMINAR about the new technology which is helping old and vulnerable people live more independent lives will take place next week.

The national event will be hosted by Durham County Council's social services department at County Hall on Tuesday, June 12.

The authority is recognised as one of the leading councils in the country for its use of technological solutions and is piloting a number of schemes throughout the county.

The seminar aims to inform people about the new technology, and will include demonstrations of much of the systems being piloted in Durham.

This includes fall detectors which send an alarm to a control centre if the client has a fall, and heat extremes sensors which can detect low temperatures for people at risk of hypothermia or high temperatures which indicate a fire or cooker has been left on.

There is also an automatic door opener which allows clients to see who is at the door on a television screen and open the door remotely if they want to let them in.

Pam Mills, the council's People at Home and in Touch project officer, said: "The various schemes the council is piloting in Durham are giving us a better insight into how these systems work in practice.

"By sharing good practice and ideas at this seminar, we can increase awareness of how new technologies and innovative ways of working are being developed."

The seminar is open to all local authorities and private companies working in the care sector.