Feros Care takes residents on an interactive virtual visit to Tweed Museum’s ANZAC exhibition

Feros Care is keeping seniors socially connected by using a robot to take residents on a virtual journey to a Tweed Regional Museum where they get to see, hear and be part of this event.

Feros is piloting different ways to use technology so residents who are less mobile and unable to go on social outings can still be part of the fun.

Feros Care’s latest innovation uses technology – referred to as a “telepresence robot” which is an iPad mounted on a miniature Segway base. Known as the Wheel-I-Am, seniors at Feros Care Village Wommin Bay (Kings Cliff) can participate in a visit to the Tweed Regional Museum without leaving home.

Wheel-I-Am can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world over the internet and using a secure connection. It uses a front facing camera with 360 degree mobility and receives real-time video and audio of social activities so that the residents at the village can participate in conversations, enabling them to feel like they are part of the occasion (even if they can’t physically attend).

Chief Executive Officer, Jennene Buckley, said the this is just one of many initiatives Feros Care is trialling to address the issue of social isolation.

“Wheel-I-Am is yet another way of ensuring that our residents feel connected and are included. The reality is that some residents won’t be able to attend this event due to health or mobility issues.

“Feros Care is always looking at ways to enable people to participate, and with the help of Wheel-I-Am, residents at the village will be able to talk with their friends while experiencing the ANZAC exhibition being held at the Museum from a virtual perspective.

“It’s important that when everyone has the opportunity to sit around the dinner table and reminisce about the great day out, even if they aren’t physically able to be there.”

Wheel-I-Am will go to the museum with some residents and tour the ANZAC exhibition – entitled Fragments: Words of War- featuring diaries, letters, post cards and service records of World War I soldiers who have connections to the Tweed.

Residents at Feros Village Wommin Bay will operate Wheel-I-Am using an Ipad. This will put them in charge of their virtual tour of the museum, which will be complete with imagery, audio and full interaction with the other people there.

“This event takes video conferencing to a new level because on this occasion, the residents at the village will direct how the event unfolds, using a remote controlled Ipad from more than 25km away,” she said.

Ms Buckley said Wheel-I-Am will join the many other virtual technologies Feros Care has develop over the last three years that support clients in the community care and residential care settings to stay connected.

One of Feros Care’s flagship programs includes My Health Clinic At Home that enables people to have their health and vital signs monitored daily and from their own home, using a simple touch screen computer.

“This technology allows seniors in the community to connect to a telehealth nurse as well as linking into social programs, health talks, their GP and other health professionals, or to join in Feros organised games such as virtual bingo and scategories.

“Feros Care is always looking at ways to enrich the lives of seniors. Later this year we plan to launch Australia’s first virtual seniors centre which will revolutionise the way seniors can stay connected, meet friends and participate in the community, and all from the comfort of their lounge chair.

“I would like to see technologies like “go pro” improve to enable voice and video streaming, so that our seniors really can go anywhere! How wonderful would it be for seniors to “go for a surf” each morning, using technology. I envisage them sitting on a wave (virtually) with our Business Analyst, watching the sets come in and catching the waves in with him,” she said.

Details for the first outing of Wheel-I-Am are:
Date: Thursday 23 April 2015
Time: 2:00pm

Location: Tweed Regional Museum, Murwillumbah

About Feros Care
Feros Care is a community owned, not for profit organisation offering quality lifestyle support for older Australians since 1990. Feros Care’s mission is to be a strong ambassador and partner in the lives of seniors, with a focus on creating a range of lifestyle options that support independence, social connectedness and healthy ageing. We offer industry leading services in At Home care, Residential care, Telehealthcare, Case Management and Health & Wellness.
Feros Care Media and Marketing Director Lisa Murray