Summary
Digital display boards were installed in local care homes, using technology and contact between generations to combat isolation and loneliness. The board focussed on positive news in the local community and was used to celebrate residents’ birthdays. They also had ‘on this day in history’ information which helps encourage older people to share their memories and stories, up-to-date information on the weather and communicating events both in the nursing home and the local community for residents and their visitors. The board would be updated weekly – remotely from our school and entirely by students during term time.
How does it work?
- Students update software on a school PC
- The TV is connected to the app and WIFI via an Amazon Firestick
- It can be updated whenever we want or on a schedule
- Nursing staff do not need to be involved with any hardware (we can even turn the TV on/off at a set time).
Environmental impact
- The reduction of paper-based advertising of information and events for the nursing home and community not only reduces the amount of waste paper and litter but stops the unnecessary cutting down of trees and the associated energy usage associated with the creation of paper and the transport to the shops.
- We can reduce the carbon footprint through the efficient use of the technology to turn on and off at key times.
Key facts
Main target group: Both younger and older people (i.e. intergenerational)
Other target group(s): families of people in care homes
Sector(s): Education, Long-term care
Desired outcome for older people:
Learn, grow and make decisions
- Accessibility
- Ageing in place
- Intergenerational activities
- Technologies