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When we think of care homes, technology might not be the first thing that springs to mind. Traditionally, care has been all about human touch, compassion, and personal attention – qualities that can seem at odds with digital devices and systems. However, at Ashberry Care Homes, we've discovered that thoughtfully implemented technology can actually enhance these human connections while providing additional layers of safety, independence, and enrichment for our residents.
Keeping Families Connected
Family relationships remain central to wellbeing throughout our lives, and this doesn't change when someone moves into a care home. In fact, these connections often become even more precious. Technology has transformed how residents can maintain and even strengthen family bonds despite physical separation.
Video Calling and Virtual Visits
Before video calling became widespread, distant family members might have only heard their loved one's voice on the telephone, missing facial expressions and visual cues that add richness to communication. Today, these digital windows into each other's lives help maintain emotional intimacy across any distance.
The difference this makes can be profound. A grandmother watching her grandchild blow out birthday candles in real-time, a resident joining in a family Christmas gathering from their comfortable chair, or simply seeing a loved one's smile during a regular check-in – these moments create continuity and belonging that sustains emotional wellbeing.
Our homes support these connections by:
- Providing assistance with video calls to family and friends, with staff helping to set up devices and establish connections
- Helping residents participate in important family events remotely, positioning cameras and ensuring good audio
- Ensuring private spaces are available for these digital visits, creating a sense of actually "going" to meet family
- Supporting families in setting up easy-to-use systems that work for their relative's specific abilities and challenges
We've witnessed remarkable moments through these connections – residents who rarely speak becoming animated and engaged when seeing young family members on screen, or family relationships deepening through more regular contact than was possible with in-person visits alone.
Digital Photo Sharing
Photographs have always been treasured in care homes, but digital sharing has transformed how residents stay connected to family life. Rather than waiting for printed photos to arrive in the post, today's residents can see what happened at yesterday's school sports day or last weekend's family gathering almost immediately.
This immediacy helps residents feel like active participants in family life rather than distant observers. When a resident can see recent photos of a new family home, a graduation ceremony, or a newborn grandchild, conversations with visitors become richer and more current.
Digital photo sharing means:
- Families can instantly share important moments with their relatives, maintaining a sense of inclusion in day-to-day life
- Recent photographs can be printed and displayed in residents' rooms, creating constantly updated personal environments
- Digital photo frames can display rotating collections of family images, providing changing visual stimulation and prompts for memory
- Staff can see and discuss these new photos with residents, supporting both memory and meaningful conversation about family connections
For residents with memory challenges, recent digital photos can be particularly valuable, providing visual reminders of family members and recent events that help maintain recognition and connection.
At Ashberry, we use Famileo – a digital tool that allows families to share photos, updates, and messages, which are then turned into a printed family gazette for each resident. These personalised gazettes are delivered regularly and offer a familiar, comforting format that resonates with many of our residents.
The printed pages spark conversation, bring smiles, and help residents feel involved in the ongoing stories of their families' lives. Staff often read through the gazettes with residents, using them as a way to support memory, encourage storytelling, and strengthen personal connections.
Enhancing Safety and Wellbeing
Safety in care settings has always been paramount, but earlier approaches sometimes compromised dignity or independence. Today's technology offers sophisticated solutions that protect residents while respecting their autonomy and privacy.
Advanced Call Systems
Traditional emergency pull cords served a purpose but had significant limitations – they only worked if the resident was able to reach them, and they provided little information to staff beyond the fact that help was needed somewhere in a room.
Today's systems are fundamentally different, responding to the realities of how emergencies actually occur and how residents prefer to call for assistance. They're designed with input from care professionals who understand the balance between safety and independence.
Modern systems provide:
- Multiple ways to call for help, including wearable pendants and buttons that ensure assistance is always within reach
- Location tracking so staff can quickly find residents who need assistance, reducing response times significantly
- Different alert levels based on urgency, allowing staff to prioritise responses appropriately
- Integration with other monitoring systems to provide a comprehensive safety net
- Discreet designs that don't look institutional, helping rooms feel more homely
These systems give residents confidence to maintain their independence. Knowing help is readily available often encourages more activity and engagement, as residents feel secure moving around their environment rather than limiting themselves out of fear.
Electronic Care Planning
The shift from paper to digital care records represents more than simple modernisation – it's transformed how we understand and respond to residents' needs. Where paper records might be updated once a day and stored in an office, electronic systems allow for continuous monitoring and immediate access to information.
This real-time approach means subtle changes in wellbeing can be identified early, often before they develop into more serious concerns. It also ensures that all staff, regardless of shift patterns, have access to the most current information about each resident's needs and preferences.
The benefits include:
- Real-time updating of important care information, ensuring everyone works with current data
- Better tracking of patterns and trends in health and wellbeing, allowing for more proactive care approaches
- Reduced time spent on paperwork, allowing more time for direct care and meaningful interaction
- Improved communication between different healthcare professionals, creating more coordinated care
- More personalised care responses based on comprehensive data about individual preferences and needs
Beyond these practical benefits, electronic care planning helps us see each resident holistically, understanding not just their care needs but their life story, preferences, and what matters most to them as individuals.
At Ashberry, we use Care Control – an intuitive electronic care planning system that supports all aspects of resident care. Care Control enables our team to record, access, and update information in real time, from any device, ensuring seamless communication across shifts and departments.
This means carers, nurses, and managers are always working from the same up-to-date information, which helps us provide consistent, personalised care. The system also captures a wide range of data, from medication records to wellbeing observations, allowing us to build a detailed picture of each resident's daily experience and long-term needs.
Balancing Technology with Human Connection
The thoughtful integration of technology in our homes reflects our understanding that digital solutions should enhance rather than replace human connection. We carefully evaluate each new system or device, asking not just whether it works technically, but whether it truly improves residents' lives and supports our care philosophy.
This balanced approach ensures:
- Technology is introduced thoughtfully, with appropriate support and training for both residents and staff
- Digital solutions are tailored to individual preferences and abilities, recognising that one size doesn't fit all
- The focus remains on how technology can enhance human connection, never substituting for personal care
- Staff time freed by technology is redirected to meaningful interaction with residents rather than more administrative tasks
- Residents never feel pressured to use technology they're not comfortable with, with traditional alternatives always available
The true measure of successful technology implementation isn't sophisticated features or cutting-edge design – it's whether it makes residents' lives better, safer, and more connected in ways that matter to them.
At Ashberry Care Homes, technology is never an end in itself, but a carefully selected set of tools that help us provide the best possible care, support independence, and ensure residents remain connected to those they love and the wider world.
