Julia’s House has received an incredible donation of specialist IT equipment from Lifelites, a charity which enables children with life-limiting conditions to play, create and communicate through assistive technology.The equipment gifted to the Julia’s House hospice in Corfe Mullen includes an Eyegaze, which allows children to paint a picture, play games and communicate by tracking the child’s eye movements with a special sensor, and a PODS sensory tent, which takes children into the magical world of space, the North Pole or a forest with remote controlled internal lighting, complementing sound effects and a matching audiobook.
Lifelites also provided Julia’s House care staff, play workers and lead nurses with two full days of training on the equipment, and will continue to support them to get the best out of it.
Natalie Sheehy, Lead Nurse for Julia’s House says, “It’s so exciting to be able to offer this equipment to the children and young people in our care. We are blown away by the potential of its use. It isn’t just about play, but communication, accessibility and the feeling of inclusiveness it gives the children. The POD is portable, so can be used anywhere, and it provides a very useful distraction if children are having procedures completed which could be upsetting to them.
“The team from Lifelites who trained us were so passionate about the equipment and seeing the benefit and inclusiveness it brings. Julia’s House is incredibly grateful to Lifelites for this generous donation, which is going to make a huge difference to the children we care for.”
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Julia’s House,” says Lifelites CEO, Rob Lightfoot. “As the needs of the children and families using their services change and become more complex, Lifelites has responded by providing an extensive package of the latest assistive technology. With almost 25 years’ experience, we know that these technologies will empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions to engage and interact with the people they love and enjoy the world they live in. We hope that this support helps them to create many joyful memories.”
Julia’s House looks after the most seriously ill children in Dorset and Wiltshire, who need 24 hour care for their complex and often rare medical conditions. The charity’s dedicated team of nurses and carers are a lifeline of support, providing essential respite breaks to give exhausted families a break from round-the-clock care, and helping to prevent them from reaching breaking point.