Estimated studying time: 6 minutes
Firstly, I wish to say welcome again in case you are studying this and sorry that I haven’t written a information article for a very long time. Time simply will get away from us generally doesn’t it. It may be arduous to really feel such as you’re being productive, however I feel simply staying effectively and taking care of one another is an accomplishment. I’ve loved trying again at my information articles from final 12 months and realised that I did actually take pleasure in writing them.
I had a really inspirational week final week, in addition to going to London for the FDM Everywoman in Expertise Awards dinner as a finalist within the Tech for Good class, I used to be ready to enter Aberdeen for an occasion and catch-up with folks I haven’t seen since earlier than the pandemic.
On this week’s instalment, I’ll present perception into:
- A brand new facility in Aberdeen to assist showcase the methods by which know-how might help folks to keep up their independence in their very own properties.
- The work of the superb Pasna Sallis and her Weekday Wow Issue programme that provides digital experiences to assist preserve folks effectively.
- An entire new approach for folks to entry psychological well being assist on the excessive road.
Aberdeen Dwelling Tech Area
I had the pleasure of attending the opening of a brand new Dwelling Tech Area on the Specialist Useful resource Options (SRS) workplaces in Aberdeen on Friday final week. The brand new house showcases a few of the use circumstances and methods by which client digital off-the-shelf tech can profit folks. There have been additionally a variety of kit units from Bon Accord Care on show giving concepts of much more ways in which folks may be supported at house. What was actually beautiful is that they’ve laid out the house so it feels actually homely. There may be additionally a bigger empty house set-up to trial the VR tech from Oculus after which two workplace desks for doing digital care visits/calls. With the concept being that with the folks being supported extra snug utilizing tech, then 1-2-1 assist may be given remotely.
The house is a follow-on from the Scottish Care pilot to see if devoted Care Technologists (CTs) inside organisations can enhance outcomes in care. They’re additionally whether or not these sorts of digital roles may assist to enhance employees retention by means of upskilling and releasing up time for the extra human features of care. I feel the hope is to get follow-on funding to do a extra quantitative piece of educational analysis into this. SRS created two new Care Technologist roles to discover how know-how may very well be utilized in care provision to enhance the standard of life for the folks supported.
In the course of the occasion we heard some highly effective tales in regards to the seemingly easy ways in which tech has been making a distinction. We’ve seen this in our personal work, that generally it actually is so simple as somebody having the ability to activate the kettle for themselves, or hearken to their favorite music, or name a beloved one.
I beloved attending to see the brand new house and speaking about Alexa as there have been a number of applied sciences with voice help embedded inside the room, together with a really good espresso machine which I may have so as to add to my want listing!
It makes such a distinction for folks having the ability to see issues in context and to attempt issues out in an atmosphere that feels relatable. That is positively going to be a precious useful resource for Aberdeen metropolis and the encircling areas.
I used to be additionally excited to listen to that Scottish Care are establishing a nationwide group to share learnings between organisations of how sensible house tech can be utilized in care.
Weekday Wow Issue
I first met Pasna final 12 months over Zoom, our paths had crossed at a web based networking occasion and we linked on LinkedIn. Her work is superb and I like how she actually focuses on the person, tailoring and adapting actions for everybody to take pleasure in. She arrange the Weekday Wow Issue in 2017 as a option to deliver thrilling, enjoyable leisure actions to older folks through the day when amenities reminiscent of cinemas, night time golf equipment and bowling alleys would have loads much less prospects. The actions have a number of societal advantages in addition to offering a chance for folks to socialize. Nevertheless it was through the pandemic that the Weekday Wow Issue has actually had the most important impression, with Pasna shifting actions on-line and providing digital experiences “strolling” round new cities, “biking” internationally and plenty of extra enjoyable adventures. Her iconic daytime discos are actually again because of the comfort of the covid restrictions, you possibly can take a look at the Weekday Wow Issue web site by clicking right here to get extra details about easy methods to be a part of within the enjoyable each in individual and on-line.
The explanation why I wished to jot down about Pasna this week is that she has been invited to No 10 Downing Road to the Celebrating the Better of Scotland reception subsequent week in recognition of her work. It is a big achievement and completely deserved.
Psychological Well being on the Excessive Road
The very last thing I wished to speak about was from an article I learn just lately: https://www.mylondon.information/whats-on/whats-on-news/head-room-cafe-mental-health-22785653
Head Room is a brand new café and co-working house in London, specifically designed to assist psychological well being and scale back social isolation. They provide an area for folks to construct new relationships and participate in a variety of programmes and occasions. In the course of the pandemic in addition they had been instrumental in serving to to guarantee that folks may get on-line. Head Room has been created by psychological well being charity Jami to assist folks to entry assist providers and take away the stigma of psychological sickness. It’s a protected and welcoming neighborhood house that focusses on peer assist and celebrates range.
I feel that we’re going to see extra of those sorts of progressive wellbeing areas on our excessive streets as a option to strengthen communities and to behave as a hub the place communities can thrive by means of a shared sense of objective.
There are such a lot of folks on the market obsessed with supporting others in progressive methods. Their drive to make a distinction generally appears superhuman and I’m vastly impressed by all of the those that I’ve met on my journey into tech. There may be additionally one thing extremely particular while you discover a synergy between two folks that may amplify the work that you’re doing. I like to champion and shine a lightweight on initiatives like those I’ve written about on this week’s weblog.
I’m truthfully so thrilled that we’re lastly seeing a extra joined up strategy to delivering tech assist in care. I couldn’t be happier that Pasna is being recognised for all of the work that she has executed through the pandemic to maintain folks linked and energetic, she is a really particular human being. I additionally love the concept of making areas that are simply accessible which are designed to spice up wellbeing and normalise how we see psychological well being.
I’m hoping that I can sustain with the running a blog frequently at the very least till the Easter holidays, when we have now a visit away to Loch Lomond within the caravan to look ahead to, as it’s my brother’s lengthy overdue wedding ceremony after two years of covid restrictions.
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