Getting in iTouch

This Eastbourne project facilitates neighbourliness between residents of care homes for older people, and university students studying to become occupational therapists on BSc and MSc programmes.

The intergenerational scheme centres around students volunteering to work with residents who to date have not used the internet or other IT facilities, but it differs from other efforts to help older people online which use standard computers.  It adds excitement, ease of use and hopefully more fun for all through the use of iPads, with its touch technology, amazing interface and transportability.  Thus ‘getting in touch’ takes on a new meaning.  Students will visit their neighbours to spend structured time, working with residents to learn to send emails to their families, search the internet for information they might need, or listen and see their old favourite songs on iTunes and Youtube.  Social networking sites may be used to connect to people in other homes world-wide.

Students will learn a lot through this community involvement, developing their core occupational therapy skills of ‘enabling’ a person to do what they want to do despite the odds; deepening their understanding of older persons’ needs and being open minded to learn about and marvel at the older person’s experience.  THE core skill in occupational therapy is to match a task to the person’s abilities to achieve success.  The project may lead to students doing research projects in this field, or to full time 8 week placements in the homes.

From the therapeutic angle, within occupational science (the knowledge that underpins occupational therapy) we will gain increased understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the iPad for getting older people ‘connected’.  This may lead to an application to fund a project within a wider number of homes, or to get iPads for more residents.  If they prove to be effective in this scheme, iPads could become attractive targets suitable for fund-raising schemes.

Students will experience the value of personal contact, giving one’s time for others, and showing kindness, which has been strongly related to reciprocal improvements in health and wellbeing.  Like true good neighbours, each will support the other.  This partnership between the community and the university brings sustainability to the idea of intergenerational care and connection.

The project aims to promote a more positive view of ageing, with the community taking more responsibility for enabling those living in care homes to keep connected to everyday happenings.