WANTED: iPads to fight elderly isolation

Tuesday 07 April 2020

A music charity is appealing for unused tablets, iPads and iPhones to be donated to local care homes so they can keep connected to the outside world during lockdown, and enjoy virtual concerts and workshops.

Music in Action Chairman James Mews says the devices can either be donated to the care homes, or lent for the duration of lockdown.

“All care homes are in lockdown and have been for some time,” Mr Mews said. “Nobody from outside can come in and, in some homes, people have to be confined to their room and cannot socialise."

Pictured: unused iPads and iPhones could help elderly people in isolation feel a little less lonely.

Mr Mews said he discovered the lack of electronic provision while trying to organise virtual concerts for care home residents.

“There is very little provision,” he said. “In some places, we could not even source a laptop to be connected to the TV.”

The charity Chairman is hoping old iPads or iPhones that still work but are not in use could be lent or donated to the homes. These would not only allow residents to get in touch with their loves ones, but also help them to take advantage of virtual concerts over Zoom. 

Music in Action was about to announce its programme of concerts and events for the Liberation Music Festival.

However, as many of the Liberation Day celebrations have had to be scaled back or cancelled, the charity is instead planning a series of weekly workshops for local care homes, as well as online performances to lift the spirits of those in isolation in Jersey, especially the elderly.

While the charity normally funds this type of outreach work through ticket sales, no money is currently coming in. Music in Action has therefore launched an appeal to raise £5,000. 

“As a charity, it’s been a very difficult time,” Mr Mews said. “We have been thinking about how we can help the island in the best possible way as sadly we weren’t going to be able to host the festival.

“As it cannot go ahead as planned, we have decided to try and divert our efforts to help the most vulnerable.” 

Pictured: a previous live concert at St. Ewold's. (Dave Crocker)

Having previously hosted live shows and workshops in care homes and other places in the past, Mr Mews says the charity has received positive feedback.

“The teams tell us how music lifts people’s spirits, how much they get out of it, how they come out of themselves as a result of this,” he said. “It shows the incredible effect music can have on people.

“We played at Jersey Hospice and there was one lovely lady who told us she felt a sense of peace, and that it felt like heaven was opening up.”

Unable to go into care homes at the moment, Music in Action will be creating online personalised programmes, where listeners can choose the type of music they want to be played. 

Pictured: residents at St. Ewold's will be the first ones to take part in the virtual workshops.

The first session will take place today at St. Ewold’s, but Mr Mews says Music in Action is hoping to roll the programme out to all local care homes. But whether they can reach the group of more than 20 depends on funding, he says.

The charity wishes to use a mixture of local players and musicians, as well as the world-renowned artists originally due to visit Jersey to deliver workshop sessions through the charity, and hopes working with them would give them a boost at an otherwise difficult time.

“Musicians are in a very hard position - freelance musicians in Jersey are suffering a massive loss of income,” Mr Mews said. “We would like to pay the musicians if possible.” 

Speaking of the fundraising initiative, he added: “£10 makes a big difference. Whatever people feel they are able to donate will make a huge difference to people’s lives.”