It can be hard for many of us to imagine life without the internet, email and social media. We have developed so many ways of keeping in touch, making connections, sharing news and views and looking up information that all rely on digital communications and internet-based technology. Care Vision’s system is an excellent example – the digital care management software relies on cloud-based storage and internet-enabled features that allow data to be recorded, accessed and shared 24/7.
While many care home residents will be more than comfortable using the internet and social media, this may not be the case for everyone. For some older or vulnerable people, the advances in technology that allow ever-increasing connectivity and online communications can be bewildering. As more ways of working and communicating shift online, it can be hard for some to keep up. Day-to-day tasks like banking or shopping can suddenly feel far more complicated to manage. People who do not know how to use the internet can also miss out on the enrichment that communicating with friends and family online can bring.
Always check what residents already know about the internet before offering to help them work it all out. It can be easy to patronise people by mistake who don’t need quite so much help, so ask people how best you can support them in starting out, continuing to enjoy the internet or looking for new challenges and ways to interact online.
Social media support
Social media is hugely popular, especially with younger people keen to share many aspects of their lives online. Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube have been designed to make sharing, chatting and staying in touch easy and fun to achieve. For older and vulnerable people, social media can bring multiple benefits in terms of combatting loneliness and isolation. When friends and family are unable to visit in person, keeping in touch via social media can be a simple and enjoyable alternative.
Social media is also proving hugely effective in helping old friends get back in contact. Given that so many people are singing up to social media accounts now, it is highly likely that a good number of residents’ old friends will already be online, waiting to reconnect. You can help residents create their own social media accounts and show them a few ways to use it. Help them look up old acquaintances using their names, last known locations and areas of common interests, such as schools, places of work or hobby groups. Not only will this help reduce feelings of isolation, searching for old connections can become a great hobby in itself.
News, views and cat videos
It was once thought that the internet and digital news would end up replacing physical newspapers and magazines entirely. While this doesn’t seem to have happened just yet, it is indisputable that the amount of news you can read and watch online is seemingly endless. One great advantage to receiving news online is that the internet can react instantly to world events. Articles and videos can be posted within minutes of something happening or being announced – or even streamed live as events are unfolding.
Another benefit is that news can come to you via your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You don’t have to go out and buy a newspaper or sit in a specific room to watch TV. To help residents access the news that interests them, care home managers can explain how to use Google and other search engines to find exactly what they want. The same goes for discussion forums, opinion pieces and other resources such as advice pages, recipes, sports results – even funny cat videos to help raise a smile or two!
Cyber-savvy advice
Most importantly, residents who are not used to dealing with the internet, email or social media can often be more prone to falling for cyber scams. Talk people through how to be safe online and urge them to always ask someone if they receive a suspicious message or are unsure about anything they come across online. Remind them that people are not always who they say they are online and that it can be easy to ‘hide’ behind a keyboard. Help residents choose safe sites to use – avoid controversial chat forums that promote more extreme views, as arguments online can quickly escalate and leave people feeling angry or upset.
Some simple tips to help your residents stay safe online include using strong passwords with letters and numbers for secure websites such as social media, online banking and e-shopping. Do not use the same password as for your email. Keep personal details private – if you enjoy posting on online forums, do so anonymously. For social media where you may wish to use your real name and post photos, always think about who might be reading what you post and whether you want your personal details to go public. You should never feel pressurised into giving out bank details, passwords, address, phone number etc. Only buy things online from secure, reputable websites and be careful about what you download, as some files can contain viruses and other cyber risks.
