Cathy couldn't be happier with the care she's receiving... And she's gone digital!

Affected by very limited mobility, Cathy Young is a tenant and care customer of Blackwood Homes and Care. Already a fan of the charity that supports her and helps her live independently, she has now started using Blackwood’s integrated digital care system – CleverCogs. I popped in to visit Cathy and find out more.

 

Laura Fergusson Court lies in a quiet neighbourhood on the west side of Edinburgh. Cathy has been a tenant in this Blackwood development for not far off twenty years, and the level of affection she has for the organisation and its staff is enough to inspire a pride in any care provider.

When I visited her just before Christmas the first thing about Cathy that struck me (and strikes everyone I expect) was her hilarious and very dry sense of humour. She plays the part of a stereotypical “grumpy old woman” but it doesn’t take much for her to break character and start cracking up. The second thing that becomes clear very quickly is how much Cathy loves Blackwood. While a member of Blackwood’s staff pops the kettle on and prepares a cup of coffee for her, without any prompting Cathy freely launched into a heartfelt tribute to the staff who support her, many of who she has come to regard as friends.

I love every member of the staff’ she tells me, her voice breaking a little. ‘Every one of them have been very kind. If I’ve got any questions all I’ve got to do is phone them.’ She relates how one housing assistant, Emma (who in 2015 won an prestigious industry award for her dedication and care in helping people live independently), goes the extra miles and does little things off her own initiative to make Cathy’s life easier.  

 

Along came CleverCogs

 

I just enjoy working on it, you know [...] when Shawn [Blackwood’s Digital Skills Trainer] came over with the machine he was great with me.

 

CleverCogs is a personal digital care system that includes an easy to use touch screen that Blackwood customers can use for entertainment, to find new information and video call friends and family. It is also used by customers however to get up to date details on their care visits, give reminders to take medication or reminders of any appointments.

 

I’m really looking forward to getting onto it again’, she explains. Her CleverCogs device had previously crashed and needed replaced leaving her without this much loved digital companion.

 

Vitally though CleverCogs is not there to replace human interaction but rather to enhance it. After a brief chat where she explains why she enjoys using her CleverCogs device so much she resumes telling me how highly she thinks of the staff.

Anything I’m not sure of, anything that I’m supposed to know, Kath (a Blackwood keyworker) will come and see if I understood it. She’s there when I need help.

 

Closing off our interview, I ask Cathy if she’d like to add anything. She brusquely summons my colleague Pam who had popped out of the room for a moment and ignores my short laugh at her bluntness. ‘To you and the rest of the staff and the rest who’ve helped me get [CleverCogs] working - one big thank you to the lot of you. And I really mean that.

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