Connecting Care

Helping care organisations and residents with digital technologies

NCVO - Learn and Share - 31st March 2014

Paul Webster – Community Builder & Technology Consultant

>About Lasa

“Lasa helps thousands of third sector and government organisations across the UK to deliver efficient, high quality services.  We are a charity which offers knowledge, support and resources.”

Providing impartial Technology Advice and Welfare Rights Support for 30 years.

>About You

Type of Organisations Do you use IT or Digital Technology? Does your organisation have an IT plan? Do your staff … and those you support

use technology? Your biggest IT grumble?

>What is Connecting Care?

Background to the project

Why it is needed for small providers in the sector

How we are delivering the project – The Process...

For Care Organisations, For Staff and for Residents

To work with exisiting networks (NCVO, NCF) & signpost to local projects

>Who are we working with at the moment?

Small independent providers of care in the VCS 18 so far in 2013/14

4 Day Care Centres 2 Independent Living Centres 1 Supported Services Project 3 Training, Skills and Employment Centres 6 Residential Care Homes 2 Home Care Agencies

Covering all of England, most in the North

The Scary Parts…

VCS Organisations – Concerns ?

Where to start

Knowledge / Skills

Confidence / Fear

Capacity / Resources

Broadband Access

Cost

Equipment not suitable

Websites that aren't accessible

Scepticism / Put off by jargon

… and you'll probably have more!

>The Scary Parts

Large organisation not backing up any data – client details, staff records …

Training provider 'networking' files by sharing a USB stick between computers in an office

A reception PC shared by two organisations with no security between each others files

No budget for strategic IT replacement or even for unexpected technology purchases

Paper based care records, searches through filing cabinets, manual duplication of effort

Importance of ICT not recognised by Trustees Poor service by ICT Suppliers No ICT Support plan in place Emails printed for CEO with no PC

Finding the right tool for the task

http://nptechuk.wordpress.com/sms-links/

From Flickr – Claire Sutton and justinbaeder

>A 'Care Organisation on a Shoestring'

Have a website - 1st place people look for org

Planning what you want to do with technology

Taking everyone in organisation along with you

Finding funding (or free solutions) for it

Supporting and Sustaining – On line support communities and resource banks

Free Tools!

>Our Top 5 Useful IT Tools that can change your organisation

1. Doodle – Makes planning of meeting dates very straightforward for participants

2. Mailchimp – Create e-bulletins, manage your subscribers & get statistics on opens/clicks

3. MyComputerMyWay – Guides & advice to set up a screen, keyboard, mouse to suit you

4. Technology Trust – Provide ICT advice & info and the cost saving CTXchange service

5. Hootsuite – Dashboard to manage multiple Facebook & Twitter streams

The Good Parts...

>The Good Parts

Dedication by a volunteer looking after their organisation's IT network

Activities Co-ordinator using Skype for residents and Youtube videos on a large screen

Willingness and foresight to equip buildings with Wireless Internet access

Vision to see that Tablet Devices are a way to offer activities and training ... and fun!

Recognition that on-line learning offers significant cost & time savings

IT Training suites & eager learners Facebook to tell good news stories

Is your Social Media in the landscape of 1992?

Or...

Conversations.

>Hand held Devices (Tablets & Smartphones)

Tablet PCs becoming affordable – starting from £79 and Supermarket own brands.

12.8 million people own one, including around 1 million of those over 55 (ComScore 2013)

30% of all UK web traffic from phone or tablet

(ComScore – Dec 2012)

82% of all UK mobile phone sales are smart phones and 71% of phones purchased by over 55's in Dec 2012 smartphones

19% of smartphone users aged over 55 (6.1 million people)

>Why use tablets and smartphones?

Light, quick and easy to get started with

'The Internet', without having to worry and bother about 'going on the internet'

Custom screens (front screen) for new users to just display the apps / shortcuts they use

A more social shared way to to view the web

59% use to check social networks, 49% for on line shopping, 36% on line banking. 75% of people get news first on line.

Have you viewed your website on a tablet?

For staff and the organisation A portable way to access care plans & record case notes As a mobile office reducing time, travel & paperwork See http://apps.nhs.uk/ & http://www.iautism.info/en

For residents and service users Tools – BIG Launcher 'Memory Trainer' & 'Brainy App' help

for Alzheimer's and Dementia Reminiscence Activities – Youtube, Flickr, Streetview Keep in touch – Skype & Google Hangouts Skills – Choiceboard Creator, Life Skills Winner Games – Pocket Pond, Talking Tom Cat Art – My Arts, Book Creator, Grand Piano

>What can tablets be used for?

Technology ideas that work with older people ...My Home Helper - https://www.myhomehelper.co.uk

A computer system developed to assist with daily routines for individuals living with memory loss (see also 'Mindings')

Skype Bingo

Berneslai Homes linked sheltered schemes to play Bingo over Skype with webcams & large screens

Eldy - http://www.eldy.eu/ http://www.welcometoalex.com/

Turns any standard PC into an easy-to-use computer for people that have never used a computer before

Internet Buttons - http://www.internetbuttons.org/

Removes complicated bits of the web to give easy access to places you need

Breezie - http://www.breezie.com/ Easy to use tablet in partnership with AgeUK

Tablet PC ProjectsIpad EngAGE - http://ipad-

engage.blogspot.co.uk/

- Based in North East & Yorkshire

- Residents in 90s using art activities

You Can Hub - http://www.get-tech.org/

- Running an open 'Tablets in Care Homes' vent in summer 2014

Alive! - http://www.aliveactivities.org/

- Very popular scheme working with 200 care homes in the South West

- http://memoryappsfordementia.org.uk/

Technology for older people ...

A well lived life in older age is being Healthy and Happy, Independent but not Isolated. Connected technology (Telecare) can help provide 'safe independence'.

“Using the Internet should be fun, not a chore” Age UK - 'ITea and Biscuits'

It's about sharing conversations with people near and far - Intergenerational

86% of over 55s - Internet has improved their lives (Digital Unite)

Websites & Volunteer Services

>Our Top 5 IT Resource Websites to bookmark

1. ICT Knowledgebase – 500 articles about making most of technology in a small org

2. Community How To – Covers all the main digital websites with reviews & intro guides

3. KnowHow NonProfit - Marketing & Comms guides for small charities that you can edit

4. SCIE – A wide range of free e-learning courses covering health & social care topics

5. Digital Unite Guides – Guides you can print to help get started with tech

• Set a Short, medium and long term plan.

• Listen to what residents want to try out on-line

• Involve everyone. Committee, Manager, Staff & Residents

• Apply to Marketing, Fund-raising & Comms

• Relevant and human conversations

• Implement, monitor and adjust. Remember it takes time

How could you make more of technology?

Start small … what one thing could you

try out today?

Any Questions?

Free lasa website tools:www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk

Free lasa publications:ICT Bulletin - bi-weekly newsletterSign-up -http://storify.com/lasaict

We are looking for organisations to take part in 2014Contact us or sign up if interested

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ccsignup

We can all be a Digital Champion or Social Media Surgeon for an older person in our community

Thank You

Paul Webster – Community Builder & Technology Consultant

pwebster@lasa.org.uk 020 7426 4498