SOLID FOUNDATIONS
Our meaningful, measurable moments of connection are built on solid foundations
Carer observations indicate that CARISA's image-driven activities consistently produce very high levels of resident engagement, improvement in mood, and insights into resident's life experiences and lifestyle preferences. They also recognise the app's role in creating continuity, recall and meaning in resident's lives.
CARISA is created in Australia by CCS Corporation, founded on our proprietary paper-based photo elicitation methodologies (known as "CCS Cards").
The usefulness of our image cards in a care setting was highlighted in a 2013 Deakin University study, Using images to communicate the hidden struggles of life on dialysis (Bennett, et.al) Among other benefits, the research revealed that the cards provided nurses with "an opportunity to walk in the patient's shoes" and that nurses "expressed surprise out how open and honest patient participants" were about their struggles.
In 2020, following promising results from a residential aged care pilot known as Cherished Memories — meaningful moments (again using our paper-based products) we moved to a digital format in response to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Beginning with mobile app prototypes designed for our learning and development customers, the need for a specific aged care app grew out of insights drawn from 14 aged care facilities in Australia and the UK who conducted over 80 hours of carer-resident interactions using our apps as part of daily care practice. This app became known as CARISA (for Carers and Relatives Image-driven Socialisation Activities).
These initial and ongoing development activities confirm CARISA's ease of use and capacity to improve connection in aged care settings. Carer observations indicate that CARISA's image-driven activities regularly produce high levels of client engagement, improvement in mood, and insights into a client's life experiences and lifestyle preferences. They also recognise the app's role in creating continuity, recall and meaning in clients' lives.
Our digital image-driven technology has also been positively recognised as an effective tool for healthy ageing and connecting people in a relaxed and enjoyable way, by the University of Stirling, Scotland, as part of it's Generating Older Active Lives Digitally (GOALD) research.
Most recently, with the support of the University of Newcastle I2N Accelerator program, CARISA is being piloted in a growing array of care contexts, such as in-home care and school student visits to aged care facilities. The app is also at the centre of a family-carer-resident study being undertaken by Australian Catholic University.
We are currently seeking care providers interested to help us pilot CARISA with their carers and clients.
University of Stirling
Our digital image-driven technology has been positively recognised as an effective tool for healthy ageing and connecting people in a relaxed and enjoyable way, by the University of Stirling, Scotland, as part of it's Generating Older Active Lives Digitally (GOALD) research.
So, when combined with our 25 years experience developing international award-winning games and game-like products to turn family gatherings and business meetings into moments of enjoyable human connection, you can be confident that CARISA's capacity to engage is well-founded.
The power of image-driven
At the core of CCS Corporation's flagship products are special packs of image cards that have been chosen for their capacity to trigger thoughts, memories, ideas and emotions in conversations and self‑reflection.
Most people find that the cards make it easier to have fresh, honest and engaging and often very memorable conversations, by providing a focus for discussion and improved listening.
Versions of CCS Cards have been used around the world for self‑reflection, one‑on-one and group communication in education, training and development, team building, counselling, and healthcare for more than 20 years.
CARISA runs on CCS Corporation's powerful proprietary digital image card platform and includes special image sets and features to help aged care facilities engage carers and families as partners in care.