Guest Post: Atul shares insights from “Advancing Digital Health for Older Adults in Care Homes”

Hello everyone,

I'm Atul Jaiswal, Research Lead, Centre of Excellence & Research Operations, here at Perley Health. I recently went to a workshop at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, all about using digital technology (like computers, tablets, and smart devices) to help older adults living in care homes. I want to share what I learned and how it matters for all of us at Perley Health:

Working together for better care
At the workshop, I met many people (researchers, care workers, people who live in care homes, and technology experts) and we all had the same goal; to make life better for older adults using technology, but in a way that truly helps.

One thing we all agreed on is that technology should not replace the human touch. It should make life easier, not harder. We also talked about how important it is to listen to the real experiences of residents, staff, and families before bringing in new technology.

One big message from the workshop was the importance of co-design. This means making sure that residents, staff, and families help shape how technology is chosen and used. Your ideas, experiences, and feedback are just as important as those from experts. When we work together, we can make sure technology is easy to use and truly improves daily life.

Listening to real stories
One story really stood out to me. A woman named Judith shared how her mother struggled with technology in her care home. Her mother felt scared and unsure, and there wasn't always enough help from staff. Judith suggested that we bring in volunteers who are good with technology and start teaching residents early, so no one feels left behind.

More than just gadgets
We also talked about how technology needs to fit into daily life. It's not just about how well a gadget works, but how it affects our routines, our relationships, and our feelings. We need to make sure everyone- residents, staff, and families- gets a say in how technology is used. We discussed the importance of fairness, too. For example, we want to make sure everyone, no matter their background, can benefit from new technology.

Sharing Our Guide: Partnering for Progress
At the workshop, I was proud to present our own Partnering for Progress guide from Perley Health. This guide is all about working together- residents, staff, families, and experts- to choose and use technology that makes sense for everyone. It's a step-by-step way to make sure everyone's voice is heard and that any changes truly help improve your quality of life.

Future prospects
I left the workshop feeling hopeful and excited. I learned that it's important to work together, listen to each other, and make sure any new technology is easy to use and truly helpful. Here at Perley Health, we want to keep you at the center of everything we do. We will keep looking for ways to use technology that makes your life better, but always with your needs and wishes in mind. Thank you for letting me share my experience. If you have any questions or ideas about technology in our home, I'd love to hear from you! Please contact me at ajaiswal@perleyhealth.ca.

Read more about this event on the Advanced Care Research Centre blog, here: https://usher.ed.ac.uk/advanced-care-research-centre/reflecting-on-the-aw-acrc-workshop-advancing-digital-health-for-older  

Written by Atul Jaiswal, Research Lead, Centre of Excellence & Research Operations, Perley Health

Atul Jaiswal shares his experience at the AGEWELL–ACRC's “Advancing Digital Health for Older Adults in Care Homes”