This online surgery is of great benefit to older members of the community including isolated and hard to reach groups including those within residential care homes involved with the Moose project.  By using the online surgery, some of the frailer residents can voice their concerns in the comfort of their own homes.

Lothian MSP George Foulkes visits ACE IT at Caledonian House

The new website www.yourlothiansmsp.com includes the first fully integrated and interactive electronic surgery – allowing George to talk with his constituents from Livingston to Loanhead and Pilton to Penicuik in the same two hour session. At the end of each conversation, constituents are automatically emailed with a transcript of the conversation they’ve just had, allowing them to hold George to his promises.

George's team was delighted by the evaluations gathered about the new site

“I really wanted my website to have a genuine community feel, offering space for my constituents own campaigns and concerns, as well as my reports from parliament. Launching the website here, with Edinburgh’s silver surfers further demonstrates that the internet is a fantastic tool for people of all ages to use and enjoy.”

Photo ©Copyright ACE IT 2007
For permission to reproduce photograph contact: ACE IT

The Moose Report: - Visit by Rhona Brankin Communities Minister to Balmwell Care Home 20.02.07 by Tish & Gerald (Moose Volunteers)

Rhona Brankin’ is the Minister responsible for communities. Two of her priorities are the ageing population and voluntary sector issues. ‘Moose in the Hoose’ successfully encompasses both of these important issues so it was especially pleasing to be involved with the Minister’s visit to Balmwell on Tuesday and to be part of the whole team which is responsible for bringing the advantages of the computer to some of the residents.

For this visit Ms Brankin was particularly keen to observe the webcam in action. With total co-operation and enthusiasm from everyone Betty undertook her weekly chat with her daughter and son in law who live in Toronto. For this particular communication Betty’s Edinburgh based daughter joined her and the usual webcam family fun began. Betty had celebrated her 92nd birthday two days before and was in fine form describing to those in Toronto all that had been happening to her. Ms Brankin introduced herself and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the interaction informing us all that her daughter who lives in Germany is due to have a baby soon and this method of communicating would be wonderful for her family including her elderly mother who will become a great grandmother! A fun time was had by all and to round off a genuinely knowledgeable visit Ms Brankin presented Betty with a birthday card and offered to show her around the parliament.

It was impressive to hear Ms Brankin speak with great feeling and sincerity about the need for adequate funding for projects throughout Scotland which will permit the ever increasing population of older people to gain as much pleasure and stimulation as our Moosers do in Edinburgh whether it is using the webcam, communicating by email, enjoying digital photos or researching areas of the individual interests using the internet.

News Update: Bill Jamieson, Executive Editor of the Scotsman hosted an online interview on the Scottish Executive's website with Rhona Brankin on Thursday, February 22. There are various versions of the interview available - click below for your preferred option

Watch Online Video (Broadband Recommended): Open video in new window

Sound Only (Broadband Recommended): Audio version (MP3)

Text Version: Full text of the interview

An Edinburgh volunteering project, which helps keep people in care homes in contact with friends and family via email has been short listed for a £5,000 national Community Care award in London on 14 December 2006

Moose in the Hoose is a partnership between Health and Social Care in Edinburgh and two voluntary agencies, ACE IT (Age Concern Edinburgh Information Technology) and RSVP (CSV's Retired and Seniors Volunteer programme)

The project brings together the interest and enthusiasm of some of the City's most frail elderly people; the commitment, time and expertise of older volunteers (all of them 50+ themselves) and the support and encouragement of the three agencies and their staff teams

In the year since Moose in the Hoose was launched over 50 individuals (living in 4 of the Council's residential Care Homes and 2 voluntary sector sheltered housing schemes) have benefited from the weekly visits of the 14 trained 'Moose' volunteers

Volunteers work in pairs and are matched to a care home or scheme. They provide friendly, regular and sustainable support and encouragement for residents and tenants to access the computer equipment. The equipment was funded by a capital grant from City of Edinburgh Council’s Corporate Services, linked to A City For All Ages – Edinburgh’s Joint Plan for Older People

Rachel Henry, Volunteer Development Officer with the City of Edinburgh’s Health and Social Care department, says “‘Moose in the Hoose’ is a great example of what can be achieved when organizations and individuals are encouraged to work together and share their skills, resources and time. Being short-listed for this national award is well-deserved recognition for everyone involved in the ‘Moose’ partnership and it high-lights the huge contribution that volunteers make to the work we do as a local authority.”

Jenny Ridge Chief Exec of ACE IT says “Through our main Computer Training project for the 50+ group, we have been making a difference to the lives of older people within the city for the past 5 years. This (Moose in the Hoose) extension of the project really demonstrates that ALL older people can benefit from the wonders of the Internet. We are particularly proud of a weekly live web camera link to relatives in Canada for one resident. We are also extremely proud of all our volunteers and their commitment to the project”

Terry Blair, Development Officer RSVP says“Through their creativity and commitment, Moose volunteers have managed to put families back in touch with each other and kept alive hobbies and interests. To date, numerous email connections have been made with families spread through out the globe, webcam links have been made with family in Canada, working songs from St Kilda have been recorded for posterity. Meanwhile crosswords have been solved, Christmas card labels have been printed and e-cards made”