Loughborough Care Home Are Hosting Virtual ‘Silver Surfers’ Workshops to Combat Loneliness in The Community

Staff and residents at Woodthorpe Lodge care home based on John Boden Way have been spending time learning how to use modern technology to connect themselves with others during newly launched ‘Silver Surfers’ Workshops.

The classes have been so successful, the thoughtful care team have now branched out to offer the workshops, over Zoom, to other local older people who may be struggling to connect with their friends and families online.

During their classes, the Silver Surfer’s learn about modern technology and the benefits of using it, along with the basics of mobile phones, how to use apps such as Facetime to stay in touch with their loved ones and even how to access fun games online such as chess and solitaire.

93-year-old resident, Pamela Horner, said, ‘The mobile phone and computer classes have been brilliant, I was struggling to answer my mobile and make calls to my family over the past few months. Staff have always been helpful when I needed to make a call, but I wanted to learn how to do it independently – and now I can!

I would encourage anybody else who is struggling with technology to join in with the virtual workshops, it has given me a newfound sense of independence and I have even started playing computer card games which I would have never been able to do on my own before!’.

Lifestyle Manager, Michelle Cart, who is the driving force for the IT workshops, said, ‘I am delighted to be running the workshops, I think it is very important to help the older generation to see that technology isn’t as scary as it sounds. We usually have a chat with each person taking our workshop to find out their main learning ambitions and we aim to conquer it! Our residents have picked everything up really quickly and have even advanced to more difficult technology such as using iPad’s and apps which is great’.

Home Manager, Preet Hundal, who has led the Woodthorpe Lodge team since it first opened its doors to residents in 2019, said, ‘We have really seen a demand over the course of the pandemic for the use of technology to communicate with friends and families. We have always supported our residents to make calls, however, I think it is fantastic to see them learning new skills! I look forward to supporting other older people who may be struggling to connect with their loved ones and pass on some top tech tips’.

To sign up for the virtual workshop or for more information, contact the Woodthorpe Lodge team on 01509 274 027.

Woodthorpe Lodge operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential and dementia care home where residents can enjoy a full programme of health, leisure and wellbeing activities managed by a dedicated team of carers. For more information about life at Woodthorpe Lodge, contact Preet on 01509 274 027 or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk