Elderly Leeds residents can benefit from new television tool to ease loneliness

A new company is offering a product for elderly people to ease loneliness, stay safe and remain in touch with family, friends and their community in Leeds – all through their home television set.
Picture supplied by Sparko.Picture supplied by Sparko.
Picture supplied by Sparko.

Sparko Virtual Retirement Community is a combination of “easy-to-use technology” and human support aimed at improving the quality of life for the elderly users, allowing them to remain independent and active.

A box connected to the television allows unlimited communication and entertainment, and a dedicated local community coordinator helps with social and technical support, safety and security.

Leeds is one area where the service is initially available.

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Users can enjoy live classes and groups ranging from language lessons to fitness, mental wellbeing and cooking, interacting through their televisions using a simplified remote control.

They can make unlimited video or audio calls to loved ones and friends, share photos and get access to a library of thousands of videos chosen to suit their interests, along with a “Happy News” channel. Family members or carers can also set up reminders which pop up on the television.

Orit Eyal-Fibeesh, chief executive officer of Sparko, the company which provides the new service, said: “Many elderly people are not just lonely but face the alarming prospect of selling their home to fund living in a care home. We offer an alternative way to remain part of the community and to connect with family, friends and the local community right in your living room.

“Instead of struggling with mobile devices and Skype or FaceTime logins, we offer a simple solution – with plenty of help and support from our friendly and caring local staff – where they can chat live with family and local friends via their television set while keeping mentally and physically fit with live classes, games, and lots of specially-chosen videos.

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Almost three-quarters of elderly people in the UK say they feel lonely, according to a survey of more than 1,000 people carried out by the Joe Cox Commission on Loneliness, and 200,000 elderly people have not had a single conversation with friends or family for a whole month according to another survey by the commission.

Age UK successfully trialled the new service in several branches of the charity in London and Oxford, all of which endorsed it.

Jane Caldwell, chief executive officer of Age UK East London, said: “We love this service because it is a brilliant way to use the technology that all older people have in their own homes already, their television, to connect to activities, information and to each other. It opens the door to a range of tailored content with exercise and educational classes and great dramas including old movie classics.

“If an older person can’t attend their usual class we can live stream the class into their home and if they are nervous to attend a new class they can connect to someone who also wants to attend. Older people have been enjoying speaking to their sons and daughters through the video call function and reporting that it’s so much more personal than a phone call.”

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The service includes a box connected to WiFi and the television set, along with a camera for video calls which can be covered for additional privacy.

It can be installed easily by a family member or, if required, by a member of the Sparko team wearing full personal protection equipment.

Once coronavirus distancing restrictions have eased, users can also enjoy extended care from local coordinators – who also carry out repairs, admin and general errands – along with social activities including religious events, classes, festivals and walks.

The kit costs £189. The monthly service fee is £19.90, with a special offer of £9.90 per month for the first year.

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