I gave the Hillside Manor Care home a call to find out if there were anymore care homes in London who are similarly proactive about getting their residents involved in online activities.
I spoke to Patricia Wright who is the care home manager. She appears to be a very passionate woman who loves her work. She joined the care home 7 years ago and turned lots of things around.
"7 years ago they were just sitting there and watching TV" Patricia explained. She had to motivate staff that things can be different and also the residents because they didn't know that it could be any different. (This reminded me a bit of ‘learnt helplessness’) She started a series of activities such as culture nights, exercise classes, scrabble nights, news paper discussion, a beautician coming in, the over 75years Olympics and more.
She introduced the computer to have more options to do for the residents. Patricia's view was: "I don't see any reason why they can’t use computers". The care home currently has 1 laptop and staff and residents share it. Ivy loves Facebook and Twitter. Another woman likes looking at the website for the Vatican. Another man who goes to his photography class uses the computer to upload his photos and other person just enjoy playing games on it. Some of the residents (e.g. Ivy) can use the computer by themselves, but there is always a member of staff nearby who can come and help when they get stuck.
Patricia explains how the care home would need 3 laptops, so more residents can join in.
According to Patricia it must be harder for older people who live by themselves to use a computer because the fear factor ("I have broken something") would be greater. The care home with staff is a safe place in that respect.
The Manor Hill care home is partly private, partly DSS funded. They have 19 residents and 17 staff of which 4 /5 people are always on shift. Patricia has so many staff because she runs a training program for carers sponsored by Help the Aged.
She also said she couldn't do all these things (Olympics etc.) if she hadn't got this highly motivated team of staff.
The telephone interview took place on 11.09.09 between 12:00 - 12:30pm. I would like to thank Patricia Wright for all the information provided.
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Care homes in Kent
There is always a employee close by who can come and help when they get trapped.
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