Can homebound seniors use the

Virtual Senior Centerto re-energize their lives?

Leo Asen, Vice President

Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.

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Homebound Seniors —Disconnected lives

2,000,000 homebound seniors and growing exponentially

Shrinking group of friends, family, activities

Concomitant chronic ailments

Anxiety, depression, loneliness, reduced daily activities

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To address the situation,four partners collaborated...

Interface provided by

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Selfhelp Community Services, Inc. Award-winning non-profit dedicated

to maintaining the independence and dignity of seniors and at-risk populations through housing, home health care and social services

Serve 20,000+ in NYC area via 23 program locations

Housing, case management services, Nazi victim programs, 4 NORCs, specialized technology services,5 senior centers, legal resources programs, Alzheimer’s day programs, home care

Senior Source (private geriatric care management)

400+ FTE and 1500 PT and per diem staff

75 years of experience

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Collaborativeproject objective

Demonstrate how technology can be used in conjunction with senior centers to promote wellness and alleviate the isolation and loneliness of homebound seniors; encourage the pursuit of active social lives through connectivity

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The Strategy

Provide the means for homebound seniors to participate (virtually) in activities at Selfhelp’sBenjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Queens, NY

Provide web access

Provide training

Provide support

Develop interesting and engaging activities and classes

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The obstacles? Sufficient interesting and

engaging activities and classes

Unfamiliarity of participants with computers and technology

Some of our seniors havehealth issues

Senior buy-in (privacy concerns)

Technical challenges

Staff buy-in

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Select participants

Thumbnail descriptions

Questionnaire and interview

Review Committee

6 selected

Homebound and case managed

Positive attitude about life

Willingness to learn

Open to trying new things

Varied cultural background and ethnicity

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The physical set-up

WiFi-enabled

Static webcams in Auditorium

Computers on carts

Case managers – webcams and Skype

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In-home technology for6 participating seniors

22” HP TouchSmart

High Speed Broadband

It’s Never 2 Late Interface

Assistive devices

Web camera

Windows 7

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VSC Curriculum Computer art

Tai-Chi classes and videos

Landmark concerts

Current events

Toward Self Acceptance and Growth

Reminiscence

Alert and Alive

Arm chair yoga

Calligraphy

Line dancing

Ping pong

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Interactive classes

Participant’s home view of class

Mobile monitor

Class leaders

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Other Applications

Skype

Email

Web browsing

Music videos

Microsoft HealthVault

Games

On-linegrocery shopping

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Milton

Milton, age 86, is a former buyer for a national department store chain

He says he was “bored to death” before the Virtual Senior Center project began. But adds that the VSC has “changed my life forever!”

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Building a Social Network

Skypes daughter

Al – New

friendship

from Center

Far-away friends

Skypes Bruno

In touch with

participants

from current

events class

Case Manager

Selfhelp

board

member

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Gloria

Gloria came to the US from the Philippines in 1957.

When the program began, she could not even type. Now she Skypes with her relatives overseas and sent her brother a webcam so they can stay in touch more easily. She enjoys VSC tai-chi, discussion groups and her one-click musical favorites including the Beatles and classics from the Big Band era.

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Bruno

“I have met such nice people at the classes. I never knew such nice people existed!”

Bruno “visits” with his two sisters who live in Germany, watches soccer, and keeps up with the news here in the U.S. and Germany

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Ethel Once Ethel swapped her

QWERTY keyboard for an ABC layout with Magnifier in Windows 7, Ethel found her wings. She reads the news; “attends” VSC classes; video blogs; and emails friends and family as well as her social worker.

“I can see and hear so much more with the computer. I’ve always been a talker. But now I’m a knowledgeable talker!”

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Rose Rose moved to the Bronx from

Puerto Rico when she was 7. She had a career in sales and also has a degree in social work.

She enjoys VSC classes, banks online, shops, is learning to speak German and Skypes with her granddaughter and great-granddaughter who live in Germany.

“I go crazy on my computer.It is like a gift from heaven.”

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Adele (age 103)

“When I first got my computer,” says Adele, “I wanted to throw it out the window. But I have found many good uses for it.”

Adele, who earned a B.A. in fine arts at the age of 83, learns computerized art techniques, “attends” Sabbath services, enjoys current events discussions, connects with family in California and updates her own opinionated video blog…

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The Outcomes? Pre and Post Evaluations

Reduction in

Anxiety

Depression

Loneliness

Positive feedback from seniors’ families

Positive feedback from case managers

Positive interest from other aging services providers

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Virtual Senior CenterIn the News…

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Next Steps Doubling the size of participant base; recruiting

candidates now

Received a grant from the UJA Federation of NY broaden the content and the programming

develop a scalable support model

evaluate operational efficiencies of virtual case management processes

Developing and refining the business model

Analyzing outcomes data for sharing at conferences and via publications

Seeking partners

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Can homebound seniors use the Virtual Senior Center to re-energize their lives?

Virtual Senior Centeropening doors; changing lives

through connectivity

Leo Asen, Vice President

Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.

lasen@selfhelp.net