An Orchard Care Home in Chesterfield has received a very special technological gift that is bringing joy to all its residents.
Riverdale Care Home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, took delivery of the state-of-the-art sensory interactive tablet, offering a variety of fun activities (for independent or group sessions) such as quizzes, colouring, virtual concerts and virtual musical instruments.
This large flatscreen mobile tablet can also be used to connect residents with their loved ones via virtual communication platforms, making it an incredibly valuable investment for the home. After being introduced to the gadget, residents quickly discovered their favourite use for it which included playing the virtual xylophone, piano and harp and watching and listening to a soothing fish tank simulator and resident Susan’s favourite musician, Gene Pitney.
Resident Maureen Rotherham quickly became fond of the multitude of games and apps she could enjoy with friends. She said “‘Oh it’s lovely! I really enjoyed the xylophone app and the dulcet tones.”
Sensory stimulation has been shown to have a variety of benefits for the elderly and especially those living with dementia. It is an important part of care to ensure that activities are provided that can help involve the senses to improve a person’s quality of life. The useful equipment offers entertainment for every type of activity and helps staff meet the social and psychological needs of their residents.
Michelle Rose, Home Manager, waxed lyrical about the endless entertainment opportunities the tablet can provide and said “Everyone was ecstatic when we revealed the device and showed them the selection of activities they could use it for. With a fully adjustable touch screen and the capability to play with a large variety of apps including YouTube and Netflix, our new entertainment system offers residents an entirely new form of enjoyment. Thank you, Orchard Care Homes.”
Offering specialist dementia care, residential care and short-term respite care, Riverdale Care Home is committed to providing the best possible care to all residents, continuing to go above and beyond to keep every resident safe during the pandemic. Quality of care and invigorating best practice is at the forefront of Orchard Care Homes’ strategy. The group’s impressive record demonstrates the highest quality of care it provides its residents, with 91% of its homes now rated ‘Good’.
