Technology Initiative for Seabury Meadows

At Seabury Meadows Memory Support Center, the activity program is based on Seabury’s “Circle of Wellness” philosophy, encompassing activities from all aspects of wellness such as physical, intellectual, social, emotional and vocational. Recently the program was further enhanced by a technology initiative. Over the course of a year, a committee developed the technology initiative program (TIP) in an effort to create innovative programming for our dementia residents at Seabury Meadows.

The main objectives of this program are to improve the residents’ memory, socialization and enhance their quality of life, as well as reinforcing staff participation and interaction with residents. In addition to the many activities that are the mainstay of this community, the use of Nintendo Wii has opened up a whole new world of communication. The residents’ verbal and non-verbal communication, that is expressed in smiles, laughter and cheers, indicates that their quality of life is indeed enhanced.

The Seabury Charitable Foundation raised the funds to purchase a large flat screen television, a desktop computer system, computer software, Nintendo Wii Gaming system, Leadsinger Karaoke system and a variety of National Geographic/Discovery educational videos to facilitate these programs.

This cutting edge technology program has already been implemented at Seabury Meadows. Residents are enjoying the computer games and interactive travelogues with fascinating facts, and virtual tours from the internet. Janelle Pinunsky, Activities Director at the Meadows, says, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” and she proves it by the constant reinforcement, enthusiasm and the encouragement that she gives the residents. She also trains the Certified Nurses’ Assistants (CNA’S) who, working as a team, enter into the games with the residents. The Wheel of Fortune, a very popular technology game, and the sports games are enthusiastically played as an interactive activity. The actual thought that technology has come this far, and that the residents are playing interactive golf, tennis and baseball with virtual opponents by using Wii, is a source of amazement and joy for the Seabury Meadows staff, residents and family.

The next phase of this innovative programming through present technology is to set up an e-mail service that can also be taught to residents with adaptive equipment so that family interaction can be constant. Questionnaires have been sent to Meadows families requesting their e-mail address so that each resident would be offered an individual e-mail account at Seabury Meadows. The responsible party will give permission for the resident to have e-mail.

”We are so excited about this new technology and how it will further enhance our residents’ lives through memory enhancement, education and social interaction with other residents and with family,” says Janelle. Updated and improved technology will expand the horizons for a variety of additional programs that already take place weekly, such as karaoke, video sing-a-longs, comedy hours, movies and old time television classics. Janelle says, “we also want to reach out to the greater community, Seabury, senior centers, libraries, schools, and churches to encourage volunteers to join our innovative program.” To learn more, please email Janelle Pinunsky.