All thanks to a pioneering project that’s turning televisions into digital lifelines.

David Walker Gardens Care Home in Rutherglen is the first in the UK to be fully equipped with a system that enables video calls and photo sharing directly through Smart Chatta TVs. The initiative is already reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing among residents.

Following its success, the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership is leading a wider roll-out to its other care homes, Meldrum Gardens and McKillop Gardens, as well as its Blantyre LIFE facility – ensuring more families can benefit from this simple but powerful approach.

For families, the impact has been transformative. Kate Bryan, whose mother Catherine lives at David Walker Gardens, said: “Seeing us on the TV has changed everything for my mum – it’s like we’re in the room with her.”

Care staff have also seen residents flourish. Megan Watt, Enhanced Senior Social Care Worker at David Walker Gardens, said: “Tablets and mobiles can be confusing, but TVs are familiar. Residents feel more confident and connected.”

Since its roll-out, the system has supported over 750 video calls with loved ones across the globe – from Canada to Dubai and Australia – helping maintain family rituals and emotional closeness.

Having seen and heard about the impact of the initiative first-hand South Lanarkshire Council Provost Margaret Cooper added: “This initiative shows what’s possible when we put people first and embrace innovation with compassion. The results speak for themselves – improved wellbeing, reduced isolation and stronger family connections.”

The technology has proven especially beneficial for residents living with dementia, offering comfort through familiar faces and voices.

Chief Officer Professor Soumen Sengupta said: “This is about people, not just technology. We have adapted digital tools to residents’ habits, creating a compassionate way to maintain bonds and enrich lives.”