‘Virtual’ visiting in aged care
A Western Australian not for profit aged care and retirement living provider has introduced virtual visiting to all of its sites.
Chris How, Bethanie chief executive, says face to face contact with families and friends is important to enhance residents’ quality of life.
Virtual visiting uses the latest Skype technology, allowing Bethanie residents the change to stay up to date with their relatives at home, interstate or overseas through video conferencing.
Bethanie provides residents with everything they need to ‘virtually visit’ their family members – access to the Internet, a computer with Skype downloaded, and a Skype registration.
Once set up, they can speak face to face with their loved ones, wherever they are.
Chris How, Bethanie chief executive, believes virtual visiting is a great way for residents to keep up to date with family and friends, and also encourages social interaction.
“Face to face contact with families and friends is important to enhance residents’ quality of life,” Mr How says.
“It reduces feelings of social isolation by reconnecting with loved ones on a regular basis and offers an opportunity to connect to younger, computer savvy, family members,” he adds.
“It’s important to ensure residents remain socially active, and ‘virtual visiting’ gives them that opportunity.”
Virtual visiting is now available at all Bethanie sites across Western Australia. For more information on Bethanie’s virtual visiting, click here.
