Glasgow City Region project brings families closer in South Lanarkshire care homes through smart TVs
A pioneering digital inclusion project funded through the Glasgow City Region Smart and Connected Social Places (SCSP) programme is now being rolled out more widely, turning televisions into lifelines for connection and care.
David Walker Gardens Home in Rutherglen is the first in the UK to be fully equipped with smart Chatta TVs that enable video calls and photo sharing – reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing among older people.
The home was first equipped with the TVs through the Region’s Smart and Connected Social Places Innovation Fund, which provided 30 residents with the Chatta TVs, delivered system demonstrations and training sessions to care managers and workers, and delivered online workshops and training for family members.
Since installation, the system has supported more than 400 video calls with loved ones from across the globe, from Canada to Dubai, helping families to share milestones and stay close.
Kate Bryan, whose mother Catherine lives at the home, said: “It’s changed everything for my mum. Before, we could call her on a mobile, but she couldn’t really focus on the screen. Now, seeing us on the TV is transformative – it’s as if we’re in the room with her.
“Being able to connect in such a natural way has brought real closeness back into her life. Even for me, when I’m away on holiday, I can call and see her – it gives me huge peace of mind.
“We’ve also been able to share photographs directly to the TV, which she really enjoys. It’s so easy to use and it makes her feel more included, more connected and more herself.”
Supported by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) through the Region’s SCSP Innovation Fund, the project has been independently reviewed and confirmed to deliver significant benefits for residents, their families and care staff alike.
Care staff have also seen residents flourish. Megan Watt, a member of the David Walker Gardens team, explained: “Tablets and mobiles can be confusing, but TVs are familiar and so our residents feel more confident and connected.
“It means so much to residents and their families to have such a simple, direct link. It also helps with communication between residents and staff. You can see the impact – less anxiety, less isolation, more confidence and stimulation. It just makes them feel more connected.”
Building on this success, the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is leading a wider roll-out to its other care homes, Meldrum Gardens and McKillop Gardens and its Blantyre LIFE facility.
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This is about people, not just technology.
“By re-imagining how technology can support older people, South Lanarkshire’s health and care services are showing that residents in care homes are not just receiving care, they are living fuller, more connected lives.”
The project is being delivered by the HSCP in partnership with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre and technology partner Care Messenger.
Professor Sengupta added: “I want to thank our dedicated staff, the residents and families who embraced this innovation and our partner organisations whose collaboration has been vital.”