Assistive technology transforms lives


Learn how new assistive technology is helping change the day to day lives of residents living at St Teresa's

We're delighted to announce that new assistive technology has been installed at St Teresa’s care home, thanks to a major grant from the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF).

The HSF was founded in 1873 by pioneers in social and philanthropic work to help people to afford medical care. With the new Eyegaze equipment, residents can use a computer by tracking tiny movements in their eyes.

The state of the art technology has already been used by Pat Eteen at St Teresa’s to communicate with family living overseas. A stroke affected the parts of Pat's brain responsible for understanding and using language. With the help of Eyegaze she can now Skype with her family.

I use Skype to keep in touch with my son, daughter-in-law and eight-year-old granddaughter who live in Canada. It is so nice to see my family on the screen, especially being able to see my granddaughter play the piano! I contact them about once a month and I am hoping that with the new technology I will be able to have greater control and independence when using Skype.

Pat, on using Eyegaze

Paul Jackson, chief executive of the Hospital Saturday Fund, visited the service with our chief executive Clare Pelham to see the new technology in action.

‘I am delighted that the Hospital Saturday Fund is able to fund this very exciting technology at St Teresa’s,’ said Paul. ‘The potential is huge and we are honoured to be able to provide this equipment and make such a difference to peoples’ quality of life at St Teresa’s.’

‘It has been wonderful to see how Eyegaze can transform the lives of disabled people here at St Teresa’s,’ said Clare. ‘Today I have seen how Pat can chat to her granddaughter across the Atlantic and how other people at the service can keep in close touch with their families and friends and enjoy social media for the first time. It is so amazing that technical advances beyond what we could have imagined only a few years ago is now — thanks to generous donors — transforming the lives of disabled people in Penzance.’

Together with the grant from HSF, this amazing equipment was funded by a gift of £13,000 in the will of Lamorna Peck, who lived at St Teresa’s for 30 years.

Find out more about leaving a gift in your will to us.