Paula Pearson and Martha Lane Fox
Aire View, in Kirkstall, is set to welcome the head of the Race Online initiative on 29 September 2011 at 10.00 am.
Having installed broadband in all of its homes, Avery Healthcare was one of the first care operators to introduce residents to the internet having recognised that many older people have much to gain from being online - many care homes recognise the benefits to residents but do not have the skills or resources to implement such an activity.
Avery is committed to leading change within the care industry and getting all residents online is a top priority. Having commissioned Finerday.com to pilot the scheme earlier this year at several of its homes, Avery is now in the process of rolling out the digital platform in all of its homes across the UK, investing in training its Recreation & Leisure teams to facilitate the activity. Today residents are enjoying the benefits of being online, allowing them more regular contact with friends and families and access to resources they quite possibly never thought possible.
John Strowbridge, Managing Director at Avery said, “Many residents can at times, still feel isolated from their families as visits are often slotted in around work and other commitments. And increasingly more and more people are choosing to live and work abroad widening the geographical gap between loved ones therefore the opportunity to visit and maintain contact with any regularity for many has become extremely difficult. Connecting people via a social network like Finerday allows them to communicate 24 hours a day. The activity will fall under the stewardship of our Recreation & Leisure coordinators – as well as the obvious emotional benefits this will provide it dovetails perfectly with our programme of activities designed to keep residents mentally active”.
Aire View’s home manager Paula Pearson said of the initiative, “There are so many benefits in getting residents online. Having access to the internet means residents no longer need to wait for a visit from family or friends, then can now actively engage with them via this online social network. We introduced our residents to Finerday in August?? this year. The digital platform enables residents to connect with families and friends; sharing news, messages, skype, photos, memories and so on”.
Paula went on to say, “We have seen first-hand the positive impact for both residents and family when they are connected on-line – there is a marked increase in residents personal happiness and well being”.
Finderday.com was developed by Lilla Harris, who has herself managed a care home and understands more than most, the sizeable benefits of being able to connect residents to friends and family through the internet, using a simplified web interface that has been designed with accessibility to the elderly in mind. Finerday.com enables elderly residents to connect with those that matter most, friends and family who, for a variety of reasons, are not able to visit as often as they would like to.
Aire View home has joined ‘Go ON Leeds’. UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox will visit Aire View as part of her Race Online campaign - to be the first nation in the world where everyone can use the internet.