Wiltshire Business
Everybody's gone surfing (even Gran)
LEIGH ROBINSON finds out about a new venture that gives residents of care homes the chance to go online - all thanks to a Wiltshire company.
Residents of Wiltshire care homes are going hi-tech.
They will be able to indulge in chat room capers and email antics thanks to a scheme in which The Orders of St John Care Trust, a care provider for older people has arranged for Data Vision Europe Limited, a local IT specialist, to supply its care homes with equipment under its Computers for Residents scheme.
The project, which is being introduced across the trust's 20 Wiltshire care homes, means that silver surfers really will rule the web with a range of new media machines providing internet facilities at their fingertips, in their own rooms.
The scheme has come about as a result of OSJCT obtaining a £190,000 government grant to improve the wellbeing and fulfilment of life for older people in its homes.
OSJCT decided to internet-enable its residents, and commissioned DVE to supply mobile WebSkate computers in each care home, offering a range of touch-screen facilities, designed for ease of use by older and frailer people.
The WiFi technology-enabled WebSkate units can be wheeled from room to room, so they can be used anywhere in the home.
They are equipped with touch screens and large keyboards, and installed with internet software - including Skype phone and web cameras - so the silver surfers can communicate easily with family and friends.
Diane Bowden, OSJCT county director for Wiltshire, said: "The world is a much smaller place today, and people's loved ones are often scattered across the UK and further afield.
"The era of the lengthy handwritten letter has passed, in favour of emails and texts used by the younger generation and silver surfers alike.
"With the introduction of computers in our care homes, residents will be able to stay in touch with their families, regardless of geographic distance.
"Individual email accounts will mean that family photos and news can be sent and received immediately.
"Imagine the difference it will make for residents to video-Skype their families birthdays, weddings and christenings more or less as they happen.
"And what fun for our residents to send footage back, showing Mum (or Grandma) dipping her toes in the sea on a sunny day trip to the seaside."
Mike Kellond at DVE said: "Thanks to the OSJCT contract, we have been able to enrich the lives of often forgotten family members who have been left behind by technology.
"These people, who would otherwise be cut off from family members, will now be able to keep in touch using our equipment. We can only speculate on what they will get up to online!"
Watersmead in Westbury was the first OSJCT home to go live with the equipment and the rest in Wiltshire will be following.
Background to project's partnership
The Orders of St John Care Trust is a not-for-profit Christian charity.
It provides care for older people of any background, irrespective of race or religion, in 74 care homes across the country - including 20 in Wiltshire, 17 in Oxfordshire and 21 in Gloucestershire.
OSJCT is the preferred supplier of care beds for Wiltshire County Council, having a contract for approximately 490 beds a year until September 2025.
The Trust delivers a broad range of care services, including residential, nursing and dementia care. It also has facilities to provide intermediate and respite care, as well as day care.
The Trust is sponsored by the Order of Malta and the Venerable Order of St John.
Wiltshire-based Data Vision Europe (DVE), creator of the Home Shopping PC Fridge, manages national fleets of secure public computer systems for clients including McDonald's, Virgin and BT.
It is also responsible for large screen displays including those in the Bristol shopping mall, Cribbs Causeway.
For more details, see www.osjct.co.uk and www.dve.net
12:29pm Tuesday 5th February 2008
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