KIT: Keeping in Touch
Keeping In Touch (KIT) empowers care home residents by facilitating easy access to email and the World Wide Web. By learning to use simple software residents can better connect with friends and family as well as access additional computer features such as games, hobbies, personal photos and favourite websites.
KIT recognises that many care home residents feel isolated and have a strong need to maintain better and more frequent contact with friends and family and to be more closely in touch with events in the outside world. They often take part in passive activities, such as watching television, and have very limited opportunities to take part in interactive and mentally stimulating activities.
Access to email and the internet is seldom available in care homes. Where computers are provided they usually run standard software, which is too complex for many older people to cope with.
KIT's support group includespeople with a wide range of experience in business management, computers, education, services for disabled people and accounting. KIT also has a group of dedicated volunteers who frequently visit care home residents. These volunteers encourage the residents to use the service that KIT provides and to get them started in using the technology.
So far the initiative has been well-received within the nine care homes in which KIT currently operates and Jeremy Morris, KIT Chairman and founder, hopes that, in time, their services will be used in care homes throughout the UK.
Created prior to 2011
