A penny for your thoughts please

fredsnail

Fantastic news - congratulations - when do you start?

tealady

:T Congratulations. You deserved to get the job with all the effort you put in.
Now if you get stuck for ideas for things to do you know where to come. Just make sure you tell the residents about this place and get them surfing.

EdInvestor

tealady wrote: »

Just make sure you tell the residents about this place and get them surfing.

Something I have been meaning to ask for some time.

How common is internet access in care homes?

Is there demand for it?Would there be demand for lessons in using the internet if they were offered?

Are there any grants/subsidies to enable people to buy computers?

In a more general sense has anyone looked at the use of the internet in helping disabled/elderly people stay in their own homes ?

Witsend_2

fredsnail wrote: »

Fantastic news - congratulations - when do you start?

All the required paper work for CRB and health checks has been sent off today, they are keen for me to start asap especially the Manager who is organising Christmas :rotfl: Due to his holiday commitments I think it will be in two weeks time:eek:

I called in today with some chocolates and a thank you card for the residents who were so supportive to me on Wednesday afternoon and they were all thrilled to hear that I had got the job :j

I am so excited I was just telling the lady in the bank about it and she said do they have any more jobs going:rotfl: I said the only place I think your job is secure is either Tesco's or working with the elderly:rotfl:

Witsend_2

tealady wrote: »

:T Congratulations. You deserved to get the job with all the effort you put in.
Now if you get stuck for ideas for things to do you know where to come. Just make sure you tell the residents about this place and get them surfing.

Well I have to say there is computer access for those who wish to surf with a large mouse and a large buttoned key board they are so well equiped its amazing. They have a number of Wii machines and Nintendo DS with brain training although I think I have some catching up to do as I couldn't remember the name of my local butchers today:rotfl:

Edinvestor I think it depends on the care home and the ability of those there, I will certainly be offering support and advice to anyone who would like it as the computer is in the library where I shall have my desk as its a central port of call. I just hope that I don't get side tracked and spend my time chatting to everyone:rotfl:

Thank you again everyone for your congratulations and kind words, I still can't get over it and everytime I think about having the job a big smile comes across my face:D

Errata

EdInvestor wrote: »

Something I have been meaning to ask for some time.

How common is internet access in care homes?

I think extremely rare, but possibly more commonly found in those homes with high fees.

Is there demand for it?Would there be demand for lessons in using the internet if they were offered?

I haven't seen any research on this. Given the fact that most care homes are dual registered and will have a fair number of people with some degree of dementia ranging from slight short term memory problems to very severe. And coupled with the fact that the majority of 75+ people may have very little or no experience of computers demand would be difficult to establish.
However, Age Concern have been involved in residents computer/internet use pilots in a couple of places.

Are there any grants/subsidies to enable people to buy computers?

Not that I'm aware of, have never heard of anything national, but it might be something charities local to a care home could support on a home by home basis.

In a more general sense has anyone looked at the use of the internet in helping disabled/elderly people stay in their own homes ?

National organisations may be looking/plan to look into this as part of telecare support. DOH or CSIP may have details of who/where.

HTH

EdInvestor

Witsend wrote: »

Well I have to say there is computer access for those who wish to surf with a large mouse and a large buttoned key board they are so well equiped its amazing. Edinvestor I think it depends on the care home and the ability of those there, I will certainly be offering support and advice to anyone who would like it as the computer is in the library where I shall have my desk as its a central port of call.

Thanks witsend, and well done.:)

Looks to me like elderly care could be due a revolution in years to come as the internet generation starts to retire...

Errata

Ed, not necessarily. In years to come more and more older people who need support will recieve it in their own homes and those who move to residential care will be far physically and mentally frailer than the current residents.

One reason for this change is that residential care is very expensive and people and councils will get a bigger bang for their buck if they're supported in their own homes or move to supported independant living accommodation.

Another very important reason is that people who receive care in their own homes thrive better and live longer than those who move into residential care.

In the past 30 years we've moved from shoving older people with dementia into large psychiatric hospitals where they had to 'live' on a ward with 10 others to having a single room in a care homes.

glenstan

What fantastic news , it shines out through your writing how much you wanted this job, I find working with the elderly, an amazing and rewarding experience. Above all, its about everyone retaining there dignity and being listened to , no matter how few the words that they have to say. Wishing you many years of contentment in your new job.

Witsend_2

EdInvestor wrote: »

Thanks witsend, and well done.:)

Looks to me like elderly care could be due a revolution in years to come as the internet generation starts to retire...

How true Edinvestor:D what would we do without Martin and the wonderful, caring support we all get from MSE I for one would really miss this site having been here what would life be like without MSE I do not know. As this site is better than any dictionary or directory I have ever come across.
Dare I say Google?? Here there is always someone to offer help and support on the spot:cool: :T :T