Dementia care specialist, Vida Healthcare, has launched a revolutionary new app to keep its residents and their families connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It comes as recent research released by Vida Healthcare looking into people’s perceptions of social care and care homes during COVID-19 found that 46% of UK adults are worried about the pressure of visiting their relatives in care as restrictions ease, and 45% would like more care homes to be technology enabled to improve connectivity between residents and their loved ones.
The research we released really reinforced our commitment to enabling improved connectivity through technology
Responding to this requirement for improved technology and greater connectivity, Vida Healthcare developed the Family Team Talk app to enable families and friends of residents at the care homes to see a snapshot of daily life at Vida Healthcare.
The app is user friendly and gives families instant access to catch up on the health and wellbeing of their loved ones through posts and updates from staff, videos and images.
James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said: “With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to relatives and friends of residents being unable to visit our care homes, one of our main priorities has been to continue creating a sense of community and keeping residents connected with their loved ones.
“Launching this app has raised the morale of relatives, residents and staff, and given everyone a greater feeling of connectivity and reassurance.
“It’s been a total success so far and we’re looking forward to seeing how families continue to use it, and receiving further feedback so that we can continue improving its usability.”
Developing apps and other technology like Family Team Talk is crucial to keeping families reassured and able to keep in touch with our residents without worrying about visiting in person
Bernadette Mossman, healthcare director, added: “The research we released really reinforced our commitment to enabling improved connectivity through technology.
“Developing apps and other technology like Family Team Talk is crucial to keeping families reassured and able to keep in touch with our residents without worrying about visiting in person.”
Originally created as an internal communications platform for staff to streamline discussions and raise staff morale, the success of the app led to Vida Healthcare expanding its offering and developing Family Team Talk.
