Perth College UHI support care home residents to connect with their loved ones

The WEEE Centre (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre), based at Perth College UHI, donated refurbished laptops to residents at Viewlands House Care Home, helping elderly residents stay in contact with their families during lockdown, as well as access medical care.

Sarah-Jane Urquhart, Perth College UHI National Training Programmes and Employability Manager said: “COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we communicate and socialise and we were delighted to support the residents at Viewlands House, through the Tech Device Network project. The technology that we were able to donate, will allow residents a vital connection to their family members – as well as having significant benefits for their wellbeing.”

Amanda Sword, Viewlands House Care Home Manager explained: “We are delighted to receive laptops, kindly donated by the WEEE Centre via the Tech Device Network, for staff and residents at Viewlands House, Perth. A tablet we received has been invaluable for staff when having virtual GP visits and has enabled residents to maintain contact with family members. These laptops will certainly come in useful, especially with residents still maintaining isolation when they can. They will also enable residents to have a laptop in their room for a while if they wanted.

“The Tech Device Network is a great way to get devices to those who are needing them and we can’t thank them enough. We will have to start computer classes for our residents soon, as they are now getting quite used to video calling! It’s amazing how tech-savvy some are becoming.”

Becca Young from The Tech Device Network added: “We’re very grateful for the generous donation by many kind-hearted individuals and businesses across Scotland such as the WEEE Centre and are delighted that we are able to get these devices out into care services. The Tech Device Network is a positive opportunity in a difficult time for people to make a difference to the wellbeing of individuals in care homes and we’re really pleased that it is growing by the day. In order for us to support more people, we’d like to encourage organisations who could donate devices in unused or good condition to get in touch with us.”

The WEEE Centre repairs, reuses and recycles IT and office equipment and mobile phones.