Memories ignited through digital image resource
Stirring memories and conversations in a ‘pleasant’ atmosphere at aged care facilities is the result of a digital image resource project developed by The Lions Club of Burnside in South Australia.
The South Australian Mount Barker Lions Club has also donated three Digital Resource Packages to Sash Ferguson retirement home.
As part of the Aged Care Digital Image Program, residents at various South Australian aged care facilities are able to view a range of topics (including their family photos) as 'slideshows' on digital photo frames or television screens.
The lifestyle staff members are also able to use these resources in large group or one-on-one activities with residents.
Feedback from lifestyle staff using the resources suggests that benefits for residents include: creating a pleasant atmosphere; arousing interest; following up of residents’ personal interests; stirring memories; promoting conversation; linking with community events; building self-esteem; feeling calm, and receiving comfort at night.
The Lions Club has received several grants to assist in the development of these projects.
Apart from topics of general interest to all residents, special attention through these grants is being directed towards preparing topics relevant to residents from different cultural backgrounds, those in situations of disadvantage, and residents who feel somewhat isolated from the wider community.
The wider not for profit Aged Care Digital Image Program, in which the Club has a key role, has received sets of images from some prominent supporting organisations.
These organisations include the Art Gallery of South Australia with its 'Collection Highlights'; the ABC Television News Weather photos; The Garden Clubs of Australia with images from their photo competition; Early Memories (household items from the Hahndorf Academy, the Moonta Museum and the Silverton Museum); Bunnik Travel with sets of images on China and Spain; Petcare Australia; The National Motor Museum, Birdwood; The National Costume Museum, formerly at Lobethal; and a variety of individual contributors of other topics.
Background music has been provided by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
The Lions Clubs wishing to assist a local aged care facility with sets of images on various topics are invited to contact the Burnside Club regarding access to these.
Several Clubs have already done this and, in addition, have provided some photo frames to their local aged care facility. In particular, the Mount Barker Lions Club donated three Digital Resource Packages (DRPs) to Sash Ferguson retirement home.
Each DRP is an electronic photo album providing a rotating display of pictures chosen by residents of Sash Ferguson. Throughout Australia, digital albums have proved effective in improving the health and happiness of older people.
As part of the projects, the Burnside Club has run workshops for lifestyle coordinators from aged care agencies in Adelaide, at which participants have been introduced to the range of topic resources available and the use of photo frames.
Here, they have also been able to hear of the experiences of aged care facilities already using these resources.
In making available the images comprising the topics, the providers have been assured that their copyright will be honoured and that each aged care facility wishing to use the resources will sign a statement issued to them by the program coordinator indicating that the images will only be used within their particular facility and not be distributed further.
For more information, contact John Dunn, the Lions Club of Burnside's coordinator of digital image projects, at johandsuedunn@optusnet.com.
