Care home connects families during covid

Monday 14 September 2020

A care home in Jersey has been making sure its residents can see their families without any risk of catching covid, thanks to the introduction of Facetime, Zoom and Whatsapp to their lives.

Les Hoûmets​ Care Home​ in Gorey has been coming up with a number of creative solutions to get around covid restrictions, including training residents to use online video calls, and a special ‘watch and wave’ window for families to come and see their loved ones from a safe distance.

It was all the brainchild of Activities Co-ordinator James Sargeant. Speaking to Express, he said that although there was some early “apprehension” about the technology from residents, soon enough with the help of “minute by minute” assistance from the carers, they were able to communicate with their families.

A particular highlight for James included a 'five-way' conversation between a resident’s Jersey family outside the window, the resident, and the resident’s family in England via an iPad.  

Pictured: Carers at Les Hoûmets​ Care Home taught residents how to keep in touch with their families online. 

Another touching moment was seeing a resident, Syd, have his granddaughter record him a song over Whatsapp, which was then connected to Syd’s television. James said how “it was brilliant – Syd’s a lovely guy, he loved every minute of it, there was so much pride.”

Les Hoûmets​ Director, Lucie Filipponi, praised James’ “magical” use of technology, saying that hooking the iPad up to the television and big screens “enabled our residents to be transported into the families’ home.”

Pictured: The 'watch and wave' windows allowed residents to see their families from a safe distance. 

She added that it “was a great boost of morale for everybody, to make them the feel a part of their lives even they though they can’t touch.”

Even outside of the home, Gorey residents rallied around to bring the community to the residents, with Lucie saying that the local support “has been phenomenal. We’ve had neighbours within the Gorey village community reach out to us. 

“One person got in touch and said can I donate some tablets, then sent them directly to the home.”  

The activities at Les Hoûmets​ Care Home​ have been revealed as part of National Coding Week, which is happening this week. 

Pictured: One generous Gorey resident supplied the home with brand new tablets. 

Looking to the future, James thinks that it’s only the beginning for the use of technology in the home too. 

“I think it’s going to be massive – the next wave of residents are all going to be demanding access to the video conferencing, Facebook, and that kind of thing.”

Pictured: Resident Syd was delighted with the technology, with his granddaughter recording him a song over WhatsApp. 

He also touted using VR and 3D devices, though he noted that it would probably be after the pandemic is under control that they could begin using the technology.

However, it shows that very soon, staying indoors won't necessarily mean you can't experience the outside world.