Smart Suite
What is Smart Suite?
Smart Suite is the Manchester Local Care Organisation Equipment and Adaptations Partnership (MEAP) and Technology Enabled Care (TEC) demo suite. Located just near the Etihad Stadium, we are open now for visits from members of the public and professionals.
From accessible kitchen and bathroom equipment, walking aids and alarms, right through to beds and stairlifts – Smart Suite is kitted out like a real home with examples of lots of the equipment that we can provide in Manchester to help keep people independent at home. We also have some equipment that isn’t supplied as standard but can support independent living, which we can signpost you on where to purchase if you are interested.
The aim of Smart Suite is to provide a place where service users, families, carers and health and care staff can see some of the adaptations and equipment we use, try it out and see how it looks and works in a home. We hope that a visit to Smart Suite will help people better understand and feel confident in what’s available, how it will help them stay independent and how to access it.
Our team at the Smart Suite will guide you through the equipment that meets your needs and suits your home. You can try it out and they will be able to give expert advice and answer any of your questions. This links to a more detailed assessment of what is right for you and your home.
What you can see?
Smart Suite is located in a large single room which has been fantastically kitted out to feature a kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom and staircase areas – all modelled like a real home. Adaptations that people can see include:
- Kitchen – height adjustable kitchen appliances, easy access cupboards and fittings, electronically lowering storage facilities and small appliance options.
- Living Room – sensor and alarm equipment in situ, chair risers, furniture, walking aids and even dementia-friendly cat and dog ‘pets’ for people who can’t keep their own pet.
- Bathroom – Bath, shower and toilet adaptations ranging from; shower chairs and electronic equipment to lower people into the bath safely to easy-use taps and toilet rails. A separate demo area has toilets with automatic washing and drying features installed as well as hoists.
- Bedroom – Electronically adjustable beds, sensor mats for motion, falls and epilepsy detection, bed rails, furniture risers and more.
- Staircase – Stairlifts and even a working through-ceiling vertical lift are installed in the suite.
- Technology Enabled Care (TEC) – all of the TEC devices that we provide in Manchester. These range from falls alarms and GPS trackers, electronic medication reminder systems, detection mats, environmental sensors and activity monitoring devices. They’re all designed to keep people independent and safe in their own home and the community.
Booking a visit to Smart Suite
Smart Suite is open almost every working day for the public, or professionals working in health and care, to book a visit. We can accommodate individual visits or larger groups. There may be some days when training is pre-booked to take place but we will be as flexible as we can to accommodate your visit.
You need to book a visit to us but it’s really easy. Just:
- Telephone us on 0161 277 1704
- Or email us at mft.msil-assessment-team@nhs.net
Location
We are located just behind the Etihad Stadium and Regional Athletics Stadium.
Our address is:
Smart Suite
Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership (MEAP) building
Phillips Park Road
Manchester M11 3FU
(Entrance is on New Viaduct Street)
Directions
Car/walking/bus (Etihad Stadium bus stop)
- As you approach the Etihad Stadium travelling from town on Ashton New Road, turn right on to Rowsley Street where Gate 11 of the Etihad Stadium is located (between the old Mercedes Garage and the stadium).
- Follow Rowsley Street alongside the back of the regional athletics stadium for approx 100 yards and then take the first left on to Phillips Park Road over the railway bridge, then immediate right on crossing the railway bridge to New Viaduct Street. The MEAP building is then immediately on your left, entrance through the black gates.
- Reception and entrance to the Smart Suite is to the left as you approach the building.
- Parking spaces are located at the front of the building. Smart Suite is on the ground level and fully accessible.
Metrolink
- Approx a 5-10 minute walk from the Etihad Campus Metrolink stop.
- Exit the stop and walk towards the stadium, then walk down the right-hand side of the stadium (Colin Bell stand) and veer right around the edge of the athletics stadium and turn right on to Rowsley Street.
- Follow Rowsley Street alongside the back of the regional athletics stadium for approx 100 yards and then take the first left on to Phillips Park Road over the railway bridge, then immediate right on crossing the railway bridge to New Viaduct Street. The MEAP building is then immediately on your left, entrance through the black gates.
- Reception and entrance to the Smart Suite is to the left as you approach the building.
Thank you to all the contractors who have given funding, time and equipment free of charge to make the Smart Suite a reality – Closomat, Geberit, Altro, Stannah, T F Jones, Hoist and Shower Chair Company, Pollocks Lifts, AKW, Go Interiors, ProCare and Invisible Creations.