Virtual Visits - A national first for Kolor Lodge in Penshurst
8 December 2008
Western District Health Service is leading the way with a world-first program aiming to reduce the distance between Aged Care residents and their families and friends.
Virtual Visiting enables residents to visit with their families and friends through videoconferencing technology and the internet from anywhere in the world. This means that distance is no longer a barrier for families to stay connected.
With the use of a laptop, webcam and video conferencing technology, the world is brought directly into the resident’s room. Families are reconnected and relationships re-established.
WDHS CEO Jim Fletcher says that the program developed by WDHS staff has made an enormously positive impact on the lives of our Aged Care residents.
“With Virtual Visiting the ability to see each other makes all the difference,” he said.
“Virtual Visiting also opens the lines of communication between younger family members and overcomes the reluctance by some who otherwise have difficulty visiting an aged care facility.”
Video conferencing is also an extremely beneficial method of communication for those residents that find it difficult to communicate via a telephone, as it enables the use of non-verbal communication.
Regular social contact with friends and family is important to enhance residents’ quality of life and overcome the social isolation often associated with admission to an aged care facility.
“At WDHS we have a dedicated group of volunteers that facilitate the visits and provide basic technical support as required by participants who may be a little apprehensive when using the technology,” Mr Fletcher said.
This innovative and unique program was a finalist in the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Aged Care 2007 and recently received funding from the Department of Health and Ageing to develop policy, guidelines and procedures for the establishment of a virtual visiting system.
In 2007-2008 WDHS will be expanding the program by making it available to all aged care facilities throughout the Southwest of Victoria.
Australia's Ambassador for Ageing, Ms Noeline Brown was at Kolor Lodge on Thursday, 4 December and experienced first hand how the project is benefiting the lives of older people.
ABOVE: Ms Noeline Brown receives a thank you gift from CEO Mr Jim Fletcher, Program Manager Sue Rondeau and DCEO Patrick Turnbull
Media Release from The Hon Justine Elliot MP, Minister for Ageing