ELDERLY people are set to benefit from an investment of almost £1million which will see warden call systems ­replaced at sheltered housing complexes.

North Lanarkshire Council is spending £900,000 replacing the security systems in 23 of its sheltered housing complexes for elderly and vulnerable residents.

This latest technology will allow tenants to have more control over their independence, while providing sheltered housing officers with vital information to ensure their assessments meet the varying needs of the residents.

Stephen Llewellyn, the council's operations manager, said: "Technology is continually advancing and this new system will really make a difference to the ­support we can give people with more complex needs.

"One of the main benefits of this new system is that it will allow us to tag technology onto it.

"This means that our on-site sheltered housing officers will be able to monitor a range of technology aimed at keeping people safe at home, for longer.

"The technology will help us when we're ­carrying out individual assessments and devising support plans."

Proposals for the new system were given the go-ahead at a recent meeting of the council's Housing and Social Work Services Committee.

Committee convener, Councillor Sam Love, said: "Tenants will have more control over their independence and support, as we currently have to install a separate community alarm in each sheltered house if there is an assessed need for it."

The project, which is being carried out by Turnstall Healthcare (UK) Ltd, is expected to get under way later this month.

The first complex to be upgraded is Meadowside Gardens in Airdrie.

stef.lach@ eveningtimes.co.uk