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Home Sittingbourne News Article
A care home has been recognised for using technology to keep its residents mentally stimulated and connected with their loved ones during the second national lockdown.
Staff at Woodstock Residential Care Centre in Sittingbourne said they were already noticing a change in their residents following the introduction of the interactiveMe handheld smart devices.
The care home workers have been creating engaging and interactive activity plans to improve the mental health of their residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They have also been able to prompt families via text messages to stay connected with their relatives – despite being unable to physically see each other – through video and photo sharing.
Woodstock, which is part of the Nellsar Care Group, has recently received the National Centre of Excellence Award from interactiveMe for its “outstanding and creative use of the technology”.
Marina Foreman, senior recreation and well-being lead at the Woodstock Road home, said: “I was a bit sceptical about interactiveMe at first, as I wasn’t sure if our residents would understand how to use and engage with the devices, especially those with advanced dementia.
“Utilising technology during lockdown, however, has turned out to have made such a huge difference to our residents’ lives in so many ways.
“It has calmed them down when they have been upset or agitated by the lockdown, while also making them laugh and reminisce.
“Being tailored to the individual, it has also given staff a greater insight into their lives and has helped foster stronger, more personal relationships.”
As well as the benefits to residents, interactiveMe has also demonstrated to the Care Quality Commission how the care home is meeting key parts of monitoring which cover peoples’ wellbeing, safe family involvement and the use of new technology.
Sam Dondi-Smith, founder of interactiveMe, said: “The teams across Nellsar have really embraced our technology to its fullest potential. Families have told us they feel more connected to their loved ones during these uncertain times and the staff have a therapeutic tool to use for their one-to-ones, which is both meaningful and measurable.”
The Nellsar Care Group has 11 homes in Kent.
