Posted by Debbie Harris
Digital responses to social distancing policies
Adopt a Grandparent
In a bid to reduce the impact of the Government’s social distancing advice a number of digital-based initiatives are springing up around the country to help combat any potential feelings of loneliness that might be experienced by care home residents during the Coronavirus crisis.
Surrey based CHD Living, for example, is opening it’s doors to ‘virtual visitors’ by digitising its ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ campaign.
The novel idea, which originally saw CHD Living pair elderly residents from across their 13 Surrey and South London based care homes with local children and adults who didn’t have grandparents of their own, is now able to welcome new applicants from across the UK as ‘virtual volunteers’.
They will be encouraged to use technology to provide mental stimulation and remote companionship through regular video calls with the care home residents, with each CHD Living home receiving a Facebook Portal TV to facilitate communication and interaction. Drawings, letters and poetry from the public are also being welcomed as part of the initiative to brighten residents’ days, with the group looking to get as many children involved as possible during current school closures.
“The nature of care means that we’re looking after some of the most vulnerable members of society at the moment. It’s a worrying time and we’re taking the threat of coronavirus incredibly seriously, putting stringent processes and protocols in place to protect our residents as much as possible. We are however keen to keep spirits in the homes high and so have been thinking of ways that we can continue to enrich the lives of our residents whilst providing them with stimulation and companionship. It made sense at this time to digitise the Adopt a Grandparent campaign and to recruit further volunteers who might like to help keep our residents company over the coming weeks. It will be a wonderful distraction for everyone involved.”
For anyone interested in enrolling in the Adopt a Grandparent scheme, then please contact CHD Living.
Free Relatives Gateway
Another welcome initiative has come from Person Centred Software (PCS). They have just announced that they are opening up their Relatives Gateway platform to all UK and Ireland care homes free of charge.
Relatives Gateway allows secure social media style messages and photos to be shared between care home residents and their families. It also gives carers an efficient way to provide well-being updates to concerned loved ones.
For more information contact Person Centred Software.
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