🌟 How Technology Helped Karl Reconnect: A Care Home Story of Friendship and Camping
In care homes across the country, moments of transformation happen every day — sometimes quietly, sometimes profoundly.
But every now and then, one story gently reminds us why human connection, memory, and a little thoughtful technology can make all the difference.
This is the story of Karl, a resident at Outstanding Oaks, who had grown quiet… until one spark brought his world back into colour.
🧍 Meet Karl – A Soul with a Heavy Heart
Karl wasn’t always difficult.
He was a little disruptive and sometimes confused.
He was mainly… sad.
Since arriving at Outstanding Oaks, Karl had withdrawn — not because he didn’t care, but because he deeply missed the life he used to know. The camping trips with his best friend Kevin, the feel of cold mornings near a lake, the long winding roads of California.
They were part of who he was. But in his new reality, they felt distant — and with them, Karl’s sense of self had started to fade.
đź’ˇ Reaching Karl with Digital Connection
At Outstanding Oaks, we don’t try to change people.
We try to meet them where they are — and remind them who they’ve always been.
Enter the Able Table: a touch-screen activity table designed for care environments. With just a few taps, it can open up whole new worlds — or, in Karl’s case, beautiful old ones.
Here’s how we used digital tech to gently draw Karl back into life, purpose, and joy:
🗺️ 1. A Virtual Trip Down Memory Lane
Using Google Earth on the Able Table, Karl and his caregiver took a virtual journey to the California coast — the same roads he and Kevin once travelled.
As the table zoomed into the satellite view of Big Sur, Karl leaned forward and softly whispered,
“That’s it… that’s the place. That’s where we set up camp.”
A panoramic view of the redwoods brought a tear to his eye. It wasn’t just a screen — it was a window to a past that still mattered.
đź“Ś Technology tip: Google Earth and Street View can be used to revisit childhood homes, holidays, and meaningful places. Perfect for reminiscence therapy in care settings.
🔥 2. A Campfire Without Leaving the Room
Next, we opened a high-resolution campfire video, complete with gentle crackling sounds, crickets, and glowing embers. Karl sat in silence — not withdrawn, but present. Calm. Engaged.
He reached out and rested his hand on the Able Table’s wooden edge, and for a moment, it felt like he was back in the woods.
🎧 Engagement idea: Use sensory-rich videos (e.g., waves, forests, firelight) to create immersive moments of reflection or calm for residents.
đź“ž 3. A Surprise Video Call with Kevin
Then came the moment that changed everything.
Karl’s caregiver tapped the video call icon. On the screen, Kevin’s smiling face appeared, live from his home in California.
Karl gasped, eyes wide:
“I never thought I’d see Kevin again… but there he was, right in front of me. It was like I could touch him.”
They laughed, cried, and told stories like no time had passed. Karl’s posture changed, his tone lifted — it was as if 30 years of friendship had walked back into the room.
📱 Technology tip: Set up secure video calls through the Able Table to help residents reconnect with loved ones, especially long-distance friends and family.
đź‘Ą 4. From Isolation to Storyteller
Later that week, Karl gathered with other residents around the Able Table. With nature photos on screen and a warm drink in hand, he began sharing stories — about raccoons stealing marshmallows and fishing in the rain.
Even residents who rarely spoke were drawn in.
They laughed. They nodded. They remembered their own adventures too.
đź’¬ Care idea: Use themed sessions (e.g., “camping trips” or “favourite places”) to spark group storytelling and foster social connection.
🧵 5. Finding Purpose Again
The next morning, Karl showed a young staff member how to tie his favourite fishing knot, with a tutorial app on screen and a real piece of string in hand.
He wasn’t a resident now — he was a teacher, a guide, someone with something to pass on.
🌱 Wellbeing benefit: When residents teach or guide others, their self-worth and mood naturally improve. Tech can become the tool — but they become the expert.
🧠Why It Matters
Karl’s transformation wasn’t dramatic.
It was real. And lasting.
We didn’t need to overstimulate him. We simply needed to offer him moments that felt personal, powerful, and possible. Technology, when humanised, isn’t cold. It’s the bridge back to the parts of ourselves we thought were gone.
🎬 Watch Karl’s Story
▶️ Episode 3 – Meet Karl: Memories Under the Stars
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/OKizhdRJuGg
It’s 5 minutes of warmth, laughter, and gentle reconnection — and a perfect reminder of what care can be when we combine innovation with empathy.
📢 Disclaimer:
These are real stories inspired by real people. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental. We share these stories to celebrate the beautiful moments we witness in care every day.
