Virtual visits helping care home residents across Wrexham to keep in touch with loved ones

Care homes across Wrexham have received iPads to help residents keep in touch with loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

The iPads have been provided as part of a scheme by the North Wales Regional Partnership Board in a bid to support those in the community to help manage their health conditions and to reduce social isolation.

In April it was announced by the Board that 365 iPads would be delivered to care homes and hospital wards to allow for virtual visiting.

It is hoped the devices will help residents to keep in touch with friends and family while visits to care homes are still restricted.

The scheme has been welcomed by care home staff across the area, who say the iPads have made a real difference to the lives of their residents.

Gary, manager at Ashgrove Care Home in Gresford said, “Thank you very much for letting us have an iPad, our residents are FaceTiming their relatives and we were able to use the iPad to celebrate the recent VE day.”

Sue Barton, manager at Oak Alyn, Cefn Y Bedd said, “Having the iPads here at Oak Alyn have made a huge difference to the residents. We have had one resident who has been able to FaceTime both of their children, one living in Wrexham and the other in Hong Kong at the same time and have a 3 way conversation – this was really fantastic.

“Another resident was able to FaceTime their relative in Australia who they haven’t seen for 8 years – this was a really emotional call!!”

Katie Williams, activity coordinator Lindan House Care Home: “What a difference this has made to the residents, as well as being able to keep in touch with their families we have also been able to download some activities on to the iPad that the residents can enjoy taking part in and they are thoroughly enjoying this, we have had one lady sing a long to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen!”