Helping Seniors Start a New Chapter

Our philosophy on elder care is simple: we don’t just think it’s enough to just care for elders’ health and housing needs. We think they ought to be treasured. They have inherent value. Always have. And the fact that they cannot “contribute” to society at the same level they used to is of no concern of ours whatsoever. A person’s value is not measured by their contributions. It is built it, and it cannot be taken away.

That is why this idea makes me so happy. Recently, the Marquis Home Health company began something called the “New Chapters Program.” It seems to be rooted in this value system. Seniors should not simply be taken care of, they should be listened to. They still have hopes and dreams. They have things they are passionate about. And far too often, they believe that all of these are out of reach. The New Chapter Program sets this notion straight.

This program is initiated by the employees of Marquis Home Health. Employees listen to their patients, trying to understand what makes them tick. And when they are able, they try to step in and help them “turn a page” in their life. To start a new chapter in their life.

For instance, there was one man who used to love skiing. It was a major part of of his growing up. But today, he lives in an Oregon assisted living community, and he has multiple sclerosis. So obvkously, skiing is out of the question, right?

Wrong.

The good folks at Marquis Home Health helped him take to the slopes again, even in his condition. Here is a picture:

This particular story can be found here at an Oregon news site.

Another woman wanted to turn a page in her life by getting into the digital age. Marquis bought her a laptop. She was overjoyed!

Don’t mistake this program for a version of the “Make a Wish” program. These residents aren’t dying. They simply want to begin a new phase of life. And the program validates their wishes. And by doing this, they show how much they value these seniors.

We think that’s awesome.

Wii Kinect With Our Grandparents!

Okay, so last Christmas we wrote this article about the Nintendo Wii, and how seniors all over the country have fallen in love with video games. Weird, huh? All it took was a switch from controllers to natural motion. Seniors hate tiny buttons, as we all know. And, as it turns out, most of us prefer natural motion as well. Well, it’s even more true today than it was a year ago. In fact, recent studies show that men and women over the age of 50 now represent more than one quarter of all video game players! Amazing, isn’t it?

The Wii remains a proven hit with seniors, particularly those who have built in competition within an assisted living community or skilled nursing center. If you can’t get out and play golf on the links anymore, maybe you can still play 9 holes in your living room, right? But this Christmas, the Wii has its first real competition: The XBOX 360 Kinect.

Enter the XBOX 360 Kinect

If you haven’t seen the barrage of television ads, you certainly will! The Kinect is a truly revolutionary product. It takes the Wii idea to the next level. Now, you don’t even need to hold on to a motion sensor controller. All you need to do is set up the Kinect Sensor, and it senses your movements. Now you can control your game by simply moving your body, or giving voice commands!

The system is brand new, so it is expensive, to be sure. The sensor addition to the XBOX 360 console is about $200 right now, and the games are $50. It gets worse for those who do not already have an XBOX 360, because you have to have the console in order to play the Kinect games, and the console will run you from $150 to $200. So you will need to expect to pay well over $350 to grab this system.

But will it be worth it? I guess that depends on the seniors in your life. If they have enough mobility, and a good eight feet of empty space in their living room, then it is almost certain to be a hit. Not only can they play games on the system, they can also watch DVD’s, stream music, and even video conference with the grandkids (Note: This feature costs a bit extra: $50 per year is what I have heard). But all of this can be operated with voice commands! This might be the biggest selling point of all. They can sit on the couch and speak to the computers as if they are the Starship Enterprise! They can “ENGAGE” the family through gaming or conferencing even if they live in an elder care community.

Now that, young man, is cool!

Senior Mobility: Hello Mobile Technology

For a house bound loved one, a cell phone may be unnecessary. A mobile device would be an absolute waste of money for my grandfather, whose eyes are bad and who never goes out. But his story is not the norm anymore. There are many seniors who are finding ways to get out and about as much as they can. Particularly if they live in an assisted living community, there are plenty of opportunities for our elders to have a mobile social life. Some communities offer Bingo at night, shopping trips downtown, or even dancing. In other words, Assisted Living communities can actually help grandma to be mobile. So naturally, she needs a mobile phone.

Some seniors have held on to a suspicious, negative attitude toward technology, but they are getting past that. One of my dear friends just turned 70, and she has a 17 inch Mac Book Pro. Now she doesn’t know how to do anything but check her email, but still. She is proving that she is not afraid.

And she isn’t alone. According to a recent survey, American seniors are adapting far better to new technology than their European counterparts. 65% of Elders in the U.S. are said to have a positive attitude toward technology.

What do they use them for? Conversations. How novel! They don’t check their stocks, they don’t play Farmville, and they don’t download Jay-Z mp3′s. No, they talk and occasionally text, provided the buttons and screen are large enough.

For technology cheerleaders, this is welcome news. And for those of us who worry how Grandma fairing in her new Assisted Living Community, this is also good news. A senior with a cell phone is a senior who is reachable.

So if she doesn’t have one yet, it’s time to get a cell phone for grandma. There are plenty of low-minute Senior plans out there that serve well for emergencies. They usually cost between $30 and $45 per month. That’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.