Gifts in Wills provide digital devices for residents
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ann Callen, the Activity Coordinator at Harwood Court, regarding recent gifts in Wills left by former residents. The money had allowed them to buy things that improved the experience of our residents’ later life, including new hairdressing chairs, a large TV, a golf game and a bar. But there were two other items that seemed particularly interesting: a Tiny Tablet and an Omi Interactive Wall.
In a previous blog post from April 2022, Director of Communities Jonathan Mace wrote about the importance of digital devices and mentioned the Tiny Tablet, writing that it ‘provides benefits for all residents but is particularly effective for those living with dementia.’
Ann echoed the importance of the Tiny Tablet when she mentioned how residents can view pictures of themselves on the device: ‘It’s especially good when a resident with dementia points at the screen and says, “That’s me!” That’s great to see.’
But what exactly are Tiny Tablets? Well, contrary to the name, they are actually large tablets that act similarly to phones and iPads. It has a built-in camera, allowing residents to Facetime with family members and friends, which is especially useful for residents whose loved ones live far away. There are also applications residents can use to help keep their minds active – a good example is an application that displays many fish that scatter when you touch the screen, encouraging the resident to engage.
As already mentioned, Harwood Court were also able to purchase an Omi Interactive Wall, a device that displays a digital mirror image of the resident along with moving images they can interact with. This provides residents with laughter and enjoyment, in turn raising their well-being levels. And not only are residents getting emotional activity, but they are also getting physical activity too.
Ann said that ‘the Omi is fantastic for our residents with dementia because it gets them to move about. They can play games with their hands by moving them around and popping virtual balloons.’
It really does amaze me how generous people are when it comes to leaving gifts in their Wills. It is a selfless act that enables not only our dementia residents but all residents and members to live later life well. Tools like the Tiny Tablet and the Omi Interactive Wall can provide them with much-needed stimuli, just like our music therapy does – another thing enabled by gifts left in Wills.
If you would like to consider leaving a gift in your Will, download our free guide to gifts in Wills and learn more about the impacts a gift can have.
