Promiscuous cooks and the art of overcoming isolation

It’s Friday, and earlier today I attended Cllr Marcel's workshop which looked at how new and developing technology can help challenge the issues of isolation and risks of loneliness amongst older people. For a tech-embracing, early adopting, digital native this was of course an exciting opportunity, if a little overdue. Still, it’s on the table and some seriously helpful, progressive people were contributing, so I’m glad that it is happening, and happening properly.

 

Around me were people from very diverse backgrounds – businesses (inc. Barclays with Tea and Teach, Ebay, Adapt2Digital), Councillors and officers, and community groups and organisations. EMAG shared information about their tablet training sessions, AgeUK are offering training and support in using technology, and INS are working with their clients on similar projects. The list goes on.

We ‘mapped’ opportunities, threw around some bright ideas, and found some common points of agreement about how to support older people in embracing tablet technology. There was a clear sense that marketing of current training and support for older people needs to be improved – a key approach would be to pull all the marketing of provision together in to one shared space. You can prove how useful that would be – just try googling ‘ipad help in Richmond’ – RACC have a course that pops up underneath all the Apple related results, but it’s hard to see any of the local courses, drop-in sessions, support etc on offer to help people get the most from their tablets. A single webpage/site that has been optimised for search engines would help these courses reach their audiences better. I look forward to seeing how this develops.

My personal 'bright ideas' (and it’s kind of my blog, so I’m going to take the liberty of sharing them…) include informing hairdressers, PCSOs, Care Providers and any other services that go in to older people’s houses, about local courses on offer, and how they can be accessed. For example, a hairdresser might explain to Mrs Jones that the community centre up the road offers friendly support – so she could perhaps dig that Android tablet out that she got for Christmas, and see if they can help her start to use it – to talk to those children or grandchildren she misses, or share the pictures of weddings she wasn’t able to get to…

And what about retailers? I bet there are hundreds of tablets purchased every year in Richmond, bought by ‘stuck-for-ideas’ offspring to give to ‘less-than-tech-savy’ parents (or grandparents). At the point of sale, a retailer could offer information on local courses so that the recipient knows where to go to learn about this new thing they've been given. And let’s ask Apple if they’ll deliver any of their workshops here in Richmond, much better than trekking all the way to Covent Garden..

Other ideas included intergenerational support - a great opportunity, offering kids hungry for volunteering opportunities the chance to help people who want to learn. There are safeguarding concerns to manage, but they are not insurmountable.

And despite my (slightly arrogant) comment earlier, I also learnt things today. I heard about Breezie for the first time. A Richmond based, app/hardware company that simplifies and condenses an internet experience .. .bringing together browsers, social networks, Skype etc. into one useable app.

And finally, what about Casserole Club? Described by the presenter as offering 'promiscuous cooks' an opportunity to show off their great skills, while overcoming awkward Britishness and the reluctance to knock on your neighbours door… ‘diners’ benefit from great food and regular, meaningful engagement with someone from their local area. Excellent stuff.