CHANT Project - Care Homes and New Technology

L4A

The CHANT project was a partnership between L4A, Leicester College, the University of Leicester, care homes in the area, and the local Apple store. This project aimed to deliver teaching training (PTTLS) to volunteers to help older frail people learn and specifically use technologies to aid learning, within care home settings. Older learners in care settings were able to learn about/ use the Internet, YouTube, Google, podcasts, iTunes, e-learning packages, iPlayer and Wii, gain confidence and develop digital literacy skills, and increase self expression and thus overcome communication difficulties. The project supported existing learning mentors to teach IT skills to digitally excluded older people and taught care home staff to support care home residents in using those technologies. Older learners found the Apple technologies intuitive and the project saw increases in residents’ physical and emotional well-being and confidence, leading to greater participation in care home life.

The Chant project was run by Learning for the Fourth Age (L4A), a not-for-profit social enterprise that provides a diverse range of one-to-one and group educational and learning services to older frail residents.

Found In...

Who

Older learners

What

Where

What were the project aims?:

The project aimed to promote and support the use of technology for the benefit of older people so that they could:

gain new and extend existing knowledge;
learn about using new technologies and gain confidence and competence in doing this;
gain skills for communication;
increase their self expression; and
help overcome the communications gap.

In addition, the project aimed to support existing learning mentors to teach information technology (IT) skills to digitally excluded older people, and teach care home staff to support care home residents in using the latest technologies.

What did the project do?:

The project ran a 'Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector' (PTLLS) course for L4A volunteers plus bespoke surgery time for volunteers. It also offered IT learning opportunities to care home residents.

What did the project achieve?:

Several L4A volunteers received PTLLS training which resulted, in some instances, to employment for those volunteers.

Residential staff in care homes have also been trained in the use of IT and are able to share this with residents. Participating in the project increased the well being, confidence and skills of residents.

What lessons were learned?:

The project noted better inter-generational relationships developing as a result of older participants working with younger volunteers.

How can I get more information?:

Melissa March,

L4A,

14 Stoneygate Avenue,

Leicester,

LE2 3HE.