Connected Living Connects Seniors

Facebook, Skype, Twitter, YouTube and other websites and applications are used by millions of people worldwide for work and for play. But that is not necessarily the case with seniors, many of whom only hear such terms on television and think of the animal when someone says “a mouse,” as Jane Bongiovanni, the Director of Activities at Plymouth Crossings, explains.

The majority of the residents at this senior living community on South Street have had little contact with computers, and only a handful use them daily, the director said.

In April, however, Plymouth Crossings introduced Connected Living, a program that features senior-friendly computers and an ambassador who provides individual and group instruction in a learning center. An online “portal” allows the residents to easily send e-mail, share and view photos, play games and tell their stories, in a way similar to social-networking sites. They can also access this service from their personal computers.

Connected Living opens up a new world for seniors, Bongiovanni says. For the first time, they can connect with family and friends and be a member of today's technological world, she added.

“I think it’s wonderful. They’re very excited about it.”

Founded in 2007 and based in Quincy, Connected Living is now featured in all of the Benchmark senior living communities in New England, the director noted.

Prior to the launch of Connected Living, Plymouth Crossings had one computer available for residents to use, and occasionally high school students visited to offer tutoring, according to Bongiovanni. Now there are four computers, all with the Connected Living interface.

Some of the residents are hesitant to use the computers and are unsure of what they can do with them, Connected Living ambassador Jackie Sakwa says. That's where she comes in, helping them along the way and demonstrating the value of this skill. For those with a bit of computer knowledge, she shows them how to use the technology more completely.

Residents at Plymouth Crossings have expressed a wide array of emotions when approaching the computers, including frustration, the ambassador describes. Getting the hang of the mouse can be difficult for some. She has also witnessed laughter when the residents watch YouTube videos and “aha” moments.

There are a number of benefits for seniors who use computers, Bongiovanni tells. Being an active participant in our technology-filled society boosts self-esteem. In addition, the computers are stimulating and provide a sense of purpose for the residents.

The director said that while the program has had a slow start, she believes it will become more popular. She also foresees that computers will play an important function in the lives of the residents in the years to come.

“We’re never too old to learn.”