North Wales users of RITA (Reminiscence/Rehabilitation and Interactive Therapy Activities) met for the first time on 4th July 2023 in Wrexham. The 10” digital devices and 24” screens are used in healthcare settings by carers, healthcare practitioners and individuals receiving care.
The technology enables individuals to recall and share events from their past through listening to music, watching films, classic TV clips, news and archive images. Person-centred care is supported via personalised content favourites, my life books, collages and passports and there are apps to help with diagnosis, distraction and delirium.
RITA is designed for use with older people including people with dementia, people with mental health illness, learning disabilities and acute brain injuries as a means of engaging with individuals to reduce distress, isolation and delirium.
Welsh Ambulance service staff, nurses, occupational therapists, carers, care home managers and Wrexham FC attended to share their experiences and knowledge and hear about the latest technology updates
Staff had the option to attend online or in person. This sold out event brought staff with different skills and experiences together and saw people sharing their knowledge;
- Community Occupational Therapist’s arranged visits to residential care homes to review use of RITA with residents
- Established residential RITA users invited staff from other settings to visit them to see how they use RITA in practice
- A talk by the Person Centred Dementia Coordinator Kate Evans was planned at Wrexham Glyndwr University to talk to Occupational Therapy students about RITA. Their work placements were identified as a key way to champion use of RITA across health and care settings.
Are you a RITA user in North Wales? For details of the next user network please or if you have any questions please contact the North Wales Regional Innovation Coordination Hub.
