Homes receive technology

KENTON Manor, Kenton Hall and Ashton Court care home residents are set to become sliver surfers after receiving exciting new interactive screens and tablets.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board has funded the Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities equipment to support the Newcastle homes in delivering meaningful and therapeutic activities.

RITA is an all-in-one touch screen solution, which offers digital reminiscence therapy, a relatively new tool in the fields of nursing and healthcare.

Steve Massey, operations manager at Solehawk said: “The RITA equipment will make a real difference for our care home teams.

“It can provide something very familiar and comforting, particularly for people living with dementia or who get confused and upset.

“It has proven results in improving the quality of life for care home residents and I am very much looking forward to seeing it in action.”

RITA is aimed at offering support for older people, people with mental health issues, learning difficulties and brain injuries as a means of supporting them and reducing their agitation, isolation, depression and delirium.

It allows people to listen to music, watch old films and archive news footage, view old photographs and take part in karaoke, bingo, quizzes and jigsaws.

RITA has been proven to have significant benefits for care homes including a reduction in falls, reduction in hospital admissions, reduction in anti-psychotic and sleep medication, supporting dignity, respect and wellbeing for residents at the end of life, improving the quality of patient-centred and continuity of care and improved interaction between carers and residents and relatives and residents.