How families stay connected in care homes using technology

Here you can read about how families can stay connected with loved ones in care homes using technology. 

Many care homes are coming up with innovative ideas using technology to keep their residents connected to family and friends.

Such interaction can boost residents’ wellbeing by bringing comfort and happiness and a greater sense of purpose.

If your care home isn’t doing any of the things listed below, you can suggest some ideas to the care home manager or bring your own technology into the care home for your loved one.

Here are some of the ways families can stay connected in a care home using technology. 

These are popular technological devices used to help families stay connected with loved ones in care homes. All are relatively cheap and easy to set up as long as there is WiFi.

Video calls

• Tablets and smartphones

Tablets and smart phones are used by residents to call their loved ones on Facetime or Skype. You can contact the care home to see if they have any devices for the residents to use. If they don’t, ask if you can buy a device and send it to the home. If you do send a device, can the staff help set it up for you and show your loved one how to use it? Also check when it is convenient for you to video call.

• Amazon’s Echo Show

Amazon Echo Show is a smart speaker and features Alexa. It features a touchscreen display so you can use Skype to contact your loves. They can also download videos to watch as well as play music and find out information through Alexa. 

The device comes in two sizes – five inches and seven inches.

• The Facebook Portal

The big advantage with the Facebook Portal is the Portal’s Smart Camera which pans and zooms to keep up with the action and if more people join in, it widens to keep everyone in view. It makes video calls with WhatsApp and Messenger.

The Facebook Portal comes in two sizes the 8” and 10” and the price starts at about £80, for the photo-frame model.

It also integrates its video calls with Facebook-owned Whatsapp and the popular Facebook Messenger, so people who own a smartphone with those apps can easily call the Portal device.

• Google’s Nest Hub Max sells itself on the fact it functions as a security camera

With the Google Nest Hub Max, you can make video call to your loved ones while you are multitasking as like the Facebook Portal, it has auto framing leaving the person to walk around when talking to you. If the person you are trying to contact is not available, you can leave a video message for them to pick up when they are ready.

Websites: Care home’s Facebook page

Many care homes are doing their best to keep families in touch with what their residents are doing by taking photos of them doing various activities and putting them on Facebook.

Don’t forget the landline

It may seem old fashioned these days, but it is still a lifeline if you want to hear your relative/friends voice. Even just a few minutes can make you feel better knowing they are well.

Letter writing

In between calls you could write your loved one a letter keeping them up to date with pictures of family and friends.