Smart tablets donated to nursing homes as part of the ‘Staying Connected’ Fingal Age Friendly Initiative

‘Staying Connected’ was conceived to address the needs of our more vulnerable older community. It is a smart technology solution to enable them to stay in touch with friends, family and service providers as we continue to go through the Covid-19 emergency.

This initiative is due to the support of the Skerries Age Friendly Town Working Group as well as support from the Fingal County Council’s Age Friendly Programme, Skerries Community Association and Skerries Rugby Club. The project also received financial support from both the businesses and local community in Skerries.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien, said at the launch: “I am thrilled to have launched this great initiative in Lusk Community Nursing Home today, it will help so many people who have been not able to contact family members as much as they would have liked over the last few weeks. Fingal County Council is committed to helping the most vulnerable within our communities however we can, and we are happy to support this initiative which does so.”

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “It is good to take time to acknowledge all the great projects that are happening across Fingal during the Covid-19 pandemic and the “Staying Connected” project addresses the needs of our citizens in nursing homes, helping them to stay connected with their families and friends which would not happen without the support and drive of local volunteers such as Skerries Age Friendly Town Committee, and their commitment in making Skerries and everyone who lives here truly respected and valued.

“I welcome this “Staying Connected” initiative and the use of the Acorn tablets within nursing homes across the Fingal area, it is indeed a project to be very proud of. I am very happy that Fingal County Council is working in collaboration with the Health Services Executive, Cliffrun Media with Acorn Tablets and with funding support from a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations to bring this project to fruition.”

ACORN is a smart tablet which provides those with limited technology skills the ability to be fully engaged online. It is designed as an age-friendly digital device, purpose-built to improve the quality of life of its older users by supporting their primary life needs. The Acorn smart tablet has been designed as a product that helps to address the challenges of sustained independent living, both at home and within the community.

Margaret Geraghty, Director of Services Housing, Community & Libraries, said: “I am delighted to support the “Staying Connect” initiative. Age Friendly Fingal are proud to be working with Cliffrun Media over the last two years in developing the “Acorn Tablet” and it is heartening to see this product now being used with our most vulnerable citizens in nursing homes across Fingal, this will ensure that our senior citizens have the technology to allow virtual face to face contact with their family and friends.”

If you wish to know more about the ‘Staying Connected’ initiative contact:

Mary Conway email [email protected] or phone 086 397 7118