Victoria Gardens Residential care home in Coventry uses social media to create a family community online.
Home to 25 elderly people, they use Facebook as a tool for families to communicate virtually with their loved ones.
Carer and activities coordinator, Sharon Mcintosh said, "About a year ago I just thought I'd make a Facebook page for families to see and connect with their loved ones online. I didn’t actually think it was allowed at first, but the families loved it and soon other homes started it as well."
Posting every day, they upload images and videos of the residents, either taking part in the activities that are organised or in their daily routine, so that family members can be with relatives virtually.
The Facebook feed has become so popular with relatives that 71 people follow the Facebook page.
Victoria Gardens try to host as many activity events for the residents in order to make their stay more enjoyable, however Sharon explains the issues the home faces when trying to put this all together.
“We can fund raise easily through a small home as we are a company not a charity. What people don’t realise is out of our budget we are given scraps for the activities elements which is the key thing for our residents.”
The home try to take trips, and have gone as far as Skegness for the residents to enjoy a cuppa by the sea.
The home have created a wish list of places that residents want to visit, or things they want to achieve, and the home successfully tries to recreate their dreams.
"One of our ladies dreamt of going to Las Vegas as her wish, but unfortunately we couldn't actually take her there, so we brought Vegas to her. We got a slot machine, and invited an Elvis impersonator to come along, the night was a hit and she loved every second of it."
Romy one of the residents who lives at Victoria Gardens, was a librarian for 60 years in Coventry's main libraries. Sharon said:
"I asked Romy to clean my car this morning to keep her active, she was at first hesitant but then agreed. She sat on a chair scrubbing my car, and even got in-between the wheels. She loves helping out."
Images and videos like this appear on the social media sites for families to see how their loved ones are still living to the best they can.
"Families sometimes bring their loved ones into the home thinking they only have a few weeks left to live. But they last longer then they think, as here they create a new lease of life with the activities and one and one time we offer."
Sharon explains the importance for their social media pages for relatives and residents.
“It brings families closer together, but also gives you something to talk about when you come to visit.”
Some relatives live further away and can't always come in to visit. Sharon tells me about a resident whose daughter lives in Canada, who can’t always come over to visit her mum.
“I bring my iPad in once a week for her to Skype her daughter in Canada. It is lovely to see her smiling all day. Something like that can really change their mood and views on life, which is amazing to watch.”
Sharon highlighted the importance of consent, as they may not be of sound mind to understand that they will be online and viewed by an online community. Sharon said,
"We do give out consent forms that get updated every year, relatives sign them or if they are of sound mind they then resident can sign it themselves."
Feedback from relatives has been high, however when Sharon doesn't have the opportunity to upload every day on her days off or holiday periods, families become concerned.
“If I don’t post families phone up the home or message us on Facebook and ask why nothing has been posted. They rely on it to see their families and want to see content every day which we always try to keep on top of.”
Karen Lilley whose grandmother lives at the care home,
“It’s so lovely to see she is safe and in a good place. Sometimes it’s hard for family members to go and visit regularly due to working commitments, so it’s like an interactive way to still be close to her.”
Over the years care homes have been in the press as being a negative place to leave loved ones, due to the mistreatment of residents.
A 2017 report by Age UK said that 37% of care homes have failed on safety. Along with 5 care providers being successfully prosecuted by inspectors, and another 1000 have had other action taken against them, either involving them to close down or being given a warning.
Using social media as a platform actively shows the caring and loving atmosphere that the elderly are in, in order to make relatives feel at ease.
