Residents at a South Lanarkshire Council care home are seeing their loved ones in a whole new light – thanks to a pioneering digital inclusion project that’s turning televisions into lifelines for connection and care.
David Walker Gardens Care Home in Rutherglen is the first in the UK to be fully equipped with Smart Chatta TVs that enable video calls and photo sharing – a simple but powerful system that’s already reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing among older people.
For families, the impact has been profound. Kate Bryan, whose mother Catherine lives at the home, said: “It’s changed everything for my mum. Before, we could call her on a mobile, but she couldn’t really focus on the screen. Now, seeing us on the TV is transformative – it’s as if we’re in the room with her.
“Being able to connect in such a natural way has brought real closeness back into her life. Even for me, when I’m away on holiday, I can call and see her – it gives me huge peace of mind.
“We’ve also been able to share photographs directly to the TV, which she really enjoys. It’s so easy to use and it makes her feel more included, more connected and more herself.”
Care staff have also seen residents flourish. Megan Watt, Enhanced Senior Social Care Worker at David Walker Gardens, explained: “Tablets and mobiles can be confusing, but TVs are familiar and so our residents feel more confident and connected.
“It means so much to residents and their families to have such a simple, direct link. It also helps with communication between residents and staff. You can see the impact – less anxiety, less isolation, more confidence and stimulation. It just makes them feel more connected.”
Since its roll-out, the system has supported over 750 video calls with loved ones across the globe – from Canada to Dubai and Australia – helping maintain sharing of family events and emotional closeness. The technology has proven especially beneficial for residents living with dementia, offering comfort through familiar faces and voices.
Having visited David Walker Gardens and spoken directly with residents and staff, South Lanarkshire Council Provost Margaret Cooper added: “This initiative shows what’s possible when we put people first and embrace innovation with compassion. The results speak for themselves – improved wellbeing, reduced isolation and families drawn closer together, no matter the distance.
“What we are seeing here is digital inclusion being used to strengthen relationships, support independence and enrich lives.”
Building on this success, the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is leading a wider roll-out to its other care homes, Meldrum Gardens and McKillop Gardens and its Blantyre LIFE facility.
“This is about people, not just technology,” said Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership
“By re-imagining how technology can support older people, South Lanarkshire’s health and care services are showing that residents in care homes are not just receiving care, they are living fuller, more connected lives.”
The project is being delivered by the HSCP in partnership with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre and technology partner Care Messenger. Supported by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology through the Glasgow City Region 5G Innovation Fund, it has been independently reviewed and confirmed to deliver significant benefits for residents, their families and care staff alike.
Professor Sengupta added “I want to thank our dedicated staff, the residents and families who embraced this innovation and our partner organisations whose collaboration has been vital.”
