Leading home care franchise joins forces with banking giant to provide online digital training for its UK network.
Award-winning franchise Home Instead is to educate both its caregivers and clients about the benefits of using digital technology. The aim of the project is to enable the company’s elderly clients to understand digital technology and ultimately integrate it into their daily lives. This ambitious program will be rolled out in partnership with Barclays Bank whose ‘Digital Eagles’ scheme is already a massive hit.
The Warrington-based franchise will provide their franchisees and caregivers with access to online training on all things digital. This knowledge will, in turn, be passed onto Home Instead‘s clients – and their families – helping senior citizens to embrace the ever-evolving world of online technology.
Home Instead took this decision in the wake of research carried out by the company which shows that 46% of over-65s would benefit from education and support regarding digital technology. Just over 1,000 people took part in the survey, with many of these indicating their wish to access services such as online shopping.
The chief executive of Home Instead, Martin Jones, said: “The pandemic has taught us many things, one of which is the importance of connectivity. This is something which applies to all of us. We commissioned this research because we wanted to gain a better understanding of how technology had been used and whether more importantly it had created any barriers for elderly people.
“We have discovered that it’s often just a simple lack of knowledge and confidence that is holding many older people back. That is something we are really keen to change.” According to a press release published by Home Instead, the study also showed that tech-savvy seniors fared much better than their tech-fearing counterparts, when it came to being connected with their loved ones.
Liam Mitchell, Head of Learning at Barclays Digital Eagles, admitted: “During the last year, many of us have depended on technology more than ever to go about our daily lives. It has enabled us to stay connected to friends and family. However, we know there are people, particularly older age groups, who don’t feel as confident and therefore aren’t benefiting from the opportunities that the digital revolution brings.
“The Barclays Digital Eagles are passionate about empowering communities across the UK to be more confident with technology. And this is why we’ve partnered with Home Instead to provide tailored resources and training to help clients and families feel confident and safe when using this form of technology. It is an important step that will enhance the daily lives of our elderly communities.”
This recently unveiled partnership with Barclays is the latest in a series of collaborations launched by Home Instead during the past 12 months. One such partnership was forged with Parkinson’s UK, when the franchise created a bespoke training programme to help caregivers deliver specialist assistance to clients living with this condition.
About Home Instead: Starting out in the United States during the mid-1990s, the business established its UK base in 2005. They have more than 220 franchise offices across the UK, delivering over six million hours of quality care each year to more than 21,000 clients. The various franchise offices employ a total of over 10,000 caregivers, specialising in offering care and companionship in the home for older people. They also provide specialist dementia care, plus live-in care, end-of-life and respite care.
With head offices in Omaha, Nebraska, the company was founded by Paul and Lori Hogan. The franchise operates in four continents and has more than 1,100 offices worldwide. In addition to the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, Home Instead can also be found in Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Italy New Zealand, Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland. In 2021, they announced that they had been bought out by technology care specialists Honor.
