Videophone Visits

Call staff at the Care Home during business hours and arrange for a Videophone virtual visit to your loved one’s room.

Connect them to Grandkids

Bring a smile to their face! How to get the grandchildren talking? Ask them to show off their new toys.

Birthdays and Religious Festivals

Family birthdays are not to be missed! Imagine the joy you can provide by bringing the party to your loved one’s room.

And vice-versa: Schedule a surprise group family call on your loved one’s birthday. For a longer, more personal experience, schedule a series of one-on-one calls that makes the day special.

Palliative care

Overseas and interstate relatives can provide great comfort to care patients and to visiting family members.

Improve mental health

Increased face-to-face social engagement via video calling was shown in an OHSU medical study to reduce social isolation and halve depression risk.

A second OHSU study showed that increased face-to-face conversation increased cognitive function (brain health) after 6 weeks of 30-minute daily video calling.

To use Skype, you will need a Wi-Fi connection or a mobile Internet data connection. Skype uses only a little Internet data. There are no call costs or subscriptions needed for Skype-to-Skype calls.

Tips:

• If using a mobile phone or tablet, rotate it to landscape (horizontal) mode so your picture fills the Videophone’s screen.
• Face towards a window or light source. Minimize background lighting and movement.
• Turn off TVs and avoid wind noise.
• A headset, headphones or earphones will vastly improve sound quality.
• Get close to your Wi-Fi router, or ensure your mobile signal is strong (3 bars).
• You can show your Facebook, photos or a web page from within Skype by sharing your screen.

Learn more about getting started with Skype.

Most Skype video and sound problems are easy to solve: See our simple Skype Quality Guide.

If the call drops, simply call back.

If you’re having trouble with Skype, try calling the Videophone’s own telephone number, <blank value> or click here to call.

To set up a group call,

1. Call the Videophone from your Skype.
2. In your Skype mobile app: Tap the screen “…” at bottom-right, then tap Add people.
   Or if you are using a computer: At top-right, tap the head-and-shoulders “+” icon.
3. Search for and select others to add to your call. At top-right, tap Add.

After you’ve finished your Videophone visit, you might like to invite other family members to call the Videophone.

When you’re all done, your loved one can press the Finished button to call staff, or simply wait for staff to attend.

Rental or purchase

Some Care Homes have multiple Videophones, and rent them to residents’ families during vacations, during respite or illness, or during the pandemic when family members cannot visit in person.

Otherwise, simply contact Konnekt to organize a Videophone for rental or purchase so that your loved one can use it any time, for as long as they like, in the privacy of their own room.

1. Tell or send the family member the Videophone call link. If they prefer a regular phone call, give them the phone number. Both are on stickers on the front.
2. Bring the Videophone and resident together. Check that the screen is pointing towards the face.
3. Ensure the power cable does not present a trip hazard. You might need to coil up the power cable, and allow Videophone to run using the battery backup unit.
4. If required, call the family member to let them know they can call. There may be a Tele-Visitor telephone book in which to keep family phone numbers, organized by room number.
5. When Videophone rings, the resident or the staff member can simply press the answer button.
   If the resident is unable to reach the screen, give them the remote button to use, and show them how to press it.

That’s it!

When the visit is over, the resident may press Finished to call staff, signaling that Videophone is available for another resident.