Interactive Touchscreens for Care Homes: What to Look For

If you've decided a large interactive screen could be a good fit for your care home, the next question is what actually separates one system from another.

Screen size is an obvious consideration, but the hardware is only one part of the picture. How the screen moves, what activities are available, how straightforward it is to use and what support comes with it can all affect how well the technology works in practice.

If you're still considering how technology could fit into your activities programme, our guide to Technology to Support Resident Engagement in Care Homes looks at that in more detail.

Here are the main areas worth looking at when comparing interactive touchscreen systems.

Start with where and how the screen will actually be used. A larger display provides more space for several residents to see and interact with the same content, but positioning is equally important.

A mobile system can move between communal spaces and other areas of the home, rather than being fixed in one location.

Height and tilt adjustment can provide further flexibility, allowing the display to be used vertically for some activities or brought into a lower table-style position for others.

When comparing systems, it's worth seeing these adjustments working rather than relying solely on dimensions on a specification sheet.

Think about the people who will be using the screen day to day.

How large are the buttons and images? How do users move between activities? How much precision does the touchscreen require? Is it straightforward for staff to find and start an activity?

A large screen alone doesn't automatically make technology accessible. The interface and software running on it matter too. Accessibility improves when the screen accommodates tactile tools, enabling residents to engage not only with their fingers but also with prostheses, pointer sticks, or paintbrushes, catering to diverse motor abilities and dexterity.

Trying a system first-hand can make these differences much easier to identify.

The hardware is only half the product. Two large touchscreens can look very similar while providing completely different experiences once they're switched on.

Check what applications and activities are actually included with the system. It's also worth understanding:

• Whether the content is designed for care settings
• What types of activities are available
• Whether additional applications can be added
• How content is organised and accessed
• Whether new activities or updates are provided
• What licences or subscriptions are required

It is equally important to look at the underlying operating system. Officially certified platforms, such as Google EDLA (Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement), ensure high enterprise-grade data security, regular security updates, and safe, direct access to the Google Play Store and Google Workspace tools alongside specialist care applications. This is particularly important if the screen is going to become a regular part of an activities programme rather than being used occasionally.

If you're investing in a large interactive screen, consider how flexible it needs to be.

Can several residents comfortably gather around it? Can it also be used one-to-one? Does the software support both types of session? A system that works across group, individual and one-to-one activities may provide more opportunities for use throughout the day.

For examples of how shared technology can be incorporated into sessions, see Interactive Group Activities for Care Home Residents.

A touchscreen designed for a classroom, meeting room or fixed installation won't necessarily have the same requirements as one being used around a care home.

Will the device need to move between rooms? How easily can staff reposition it? Where will it be stored? What connectivity does it require?

Safety and durability are crucial in high-use care settings. Look for hardware equipped with scratch-resistant, impact-tested safety glass (panzer glass) to ensure the display can withstand daily use securely while keeping residents and staff safe.

These are relatively simple questions, but they can make a significant difference once the technology moves from a demonstration into everyday use.

It's also worth looking beyond the initial purchase.

Find out who handles installation, what training is provided and who you contact if you need help afterwards.

If the product is developed or manufactured outside the UK, establish whether you're dealing directly with an overseas manufacturer or whether there is a UK partner responsible for the customer relationship.

A clear route for ongoing support can be just as important as the technology itself.

Specifications can tell you what a touchscreen is capable of. They can't tell you exactly how it will work for your team and residents.

A demonstration gives staff the opportunity to try the screen, explore the activities and ask practical questions before making a decision.

Where available, a trial goes further by allowing the technology to be used within the care home itself. That can provide a much clearer understanding of where it fits, how teams use it and whether it's something they would continue using in practice.

Remark Group is the official UK partner for YetiCare and the sole UK supplier. Against the areas above, the YetiCare solution features a large interactive Android tablet called the Yetitablet, which comes with a motorised, height- and tilt-adjustable stand. It has a durable safety glass display, supports multi-touch for group participation, and operates on a Google EDLA-certified Android system to ensure robust security and seamless app availability.

It comes with an intuitive user interface and YetiApps, a library of ready-made games and activities co-developed with healthcare professionals specifically for care and educational environments, and can be used for individual, one-to-one and group sessions.

As YetiCare's UK partner, Remark Group manages the process from initial demonstration through to installation, training and ongoing support.

If you're comparing interactive touchscreen technology, seeing a system in person is one of the easiest ways to understand the differences that aren't obvious from a specification sheet.

We offer Yetitablet demonstrations at our Peterborough headquarters, where you can try the screen and activities and speak to our team about the technology.

We can also arrange a Yetitablet on loan for a trial period within your own setting.

Explore YetiCare for Care Homes