Estimated studying time: 6 minutes
Firstly, I need 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 typically doesn’t it. It may be laborious to really feel such as you’re being productive, however I believe simply staying nicely 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 get pleasure from 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 in a position 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 can assist folks to keep up their independence in their very own houses.
- The work of the wonderful Pasna Sallis and her Weekday Wow Issue programme that gives digital experiences to assist maintain folks nicely.
- A complete new method for folks to entry psychological well being help 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) places of work in Aberdeen on Friday final week. The brand new area showcases among the use circumstances and methods by which shopper digital off-the-shelf tech can profit folks. There have been additionally a variety of apparatus gadgets from Bon Accord Care on show giving concepts of much more ways in which folks could be supported at dwelling. What was actually beautiful is that they’ve laid out the area so it feels actually homely. There may be additionally a bigger empty area set-up to trial the VR tech from Oculus after which two workplace desks for doing digital care visits/calls. With the thought being that with the folks being supported extra comfy utilizing tech, then 1-2-1 help is also given remotely.
The area 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 taking a look at whether or not these sorts of digital roles may assist to enhance workers retention by means of upskilling and liberating up time for the extra human elements of care. I believe 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 could possibly 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 typically 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 area and speaking about Alexa as there have been plenty of applied sciences with voice help embedded throughout the room, together with a really good espresso machine which I might 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 strive issues out in an setting that feels relatable. That is undoubtedly 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 taking a look at establishing a nationwide group to share learnings between organisations of how good dwelling 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 wonderful and I really like how she actually focuses on the person, tailoring and adapting actions for everybody to get pleasure from. She arrange the Weekday Wow Issue in 2017 as a technique to carry thrilling, enjoyable leisure actions to older folks throughout the day when amenities resembling 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 possibility for folks to socialize. But it surely was throughout the pandemic that the Weekday Wow Issue has actually had the largest affect, with Pasna transferring actions on-line and providing digital experiences “strolling” round new cities, “biking” the world over and lots of extra enjoyable adventures. Her iconic daytime discos at the moment are again because of the relief of the covid restrictions, you may try the Weekday Wow Issue web site by clicking right here to get extra details about be a part of within the enjoyable each in individual and on-line.
The rationale why I needed to put in writing 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. This can be a large achievement and completely deserved.
Psychological Well being on the Excessive Road
The very last thing I needed to speak about was from an article I learn not too long ago: 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 area in London, specifically designed to help psychological well being and cut 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 make it possible for folks may get on-line. Head Room has been created by psychological well being charity Jami to assist folks to entry help providers and take away the stigma of psychological sickness. It’s a secure and alluring group area that focusses on peer help and celebrates variety.
I believe that we’re going to see extra of those sorts of modern wellbeing areas on our excessive streets as a technique to strengthen communities and to behave as a hub the place communities can thrive by means of a shared sense of function.
There are such a lot of folks on the market keen about supporting others in modern methods. Their drive to make a distinction typically appears superhuman and I’m vastly impressed by all of the folks that I’ve met on my journey into tech. There may be additionally one thing extremely particular whenever you discover a synergy between two folks that may amplify the work that you’re doing. I like to champion and shine a light-weight 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 help in care. I couldn’t be happier that Pasna is being recognised for all of the work that she has finished throughout the pandemic to maintain folks linked and lively, she is a really particular human being. I additionally love the thought of making areas that are simply accessible which might be 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 no less than till the Easter holidays, when we’ve got a visit away to Loch Lomond within the caravan to look ahead to, as it’s my brother’s lengthy overdue marriage ceremony after two years of covid restrictions.
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