Care home residents in Newcastle are set to become silver surfers after receiving interactive screens and tablets.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board has funded the adoption of Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities (RITA) equipment in Newcastle’s Kenton Manor, Kenton Hall and Ashton Court care homes. The equipment will support the Solehawk homes to deliver meaningful and therapeutic activities.

RITA is an all-in-one touch screen solution, which offers digital reminiscence therapy. It allows people to listen to music, watch old films and archive news footage, view old photographs and take part in karaoke, bingo, quizzes and jigsaws. RITA supports older people and people with mental health issues, learning difficulties and brain injuries by reducing their agitation, isolation, depression and delirium.

RITA has been shown to reduce falls by up to 66% in care homes as well as reducing hospital admissions and the use of anti-psychotic and sleep medication.

Steve Massey, operations manager at Solehawk, said: “The RITA equipment will make a real difference for our care home teams. It can provide something very familiar and comforting, particularly for people living with dementia or who get confused and upset.

“It has proven results in improving the quality of life for care home residents and I am very much looking forward to seeing it in action.”