Technology for Every Day Living

One of Lutheran SeniorLife's strategic initiatives is to leverage technology through its system to improve everyday living and bring an Abundant Life^SM to all who we serve.

Our latest endeavor is the opening of the Silver Smart Tech Center on Main Street at the Passavant campus, which can be used as a resource for residents, family members and staff. The Center showcases state-of-the-art technology items for seniors to facilitate aging in place. Visitors to the center have the opportunity to see and interact with technology that focuses on increasing safety, assisting with daily activities, and promoting an Abundant Life^SM.

"The Center is a premier showcase of technology solutions designed to improve senior living," said David Fenoglietto, president and CEO of Lutheran SeniorLife. "As part of our strategic initiative to leverage technology, it presents many of the products we have introduced throughout our communities over the past year and a half. The new center – and its technology – will give seniors more opportunities for living an Abundant Life^SM both now and in the years to come."

The SilverSmart Technology Test Pilots is a group of volunteer residents at Passavant Retirement Community who test and evaluate the products on display at the Center and give their opinions as to whether the products would be beneficial to older adults. For a product demonstration or ordering information, please contact Sharon Whalen, technology associate, at swhalen@lutheranseniorlife.org or by calling 724-452-3619.

Shake-n-Wake Watch

April, 2012

The Shake-n-Wake wristwatch alarm clock is designed to vibrate at a pre-set time to wake the wearer, and is intended for use by those with hearing difficulties.

The Technology Test Pilots agreed that the instructions were hard to follow, making the watch difficult to program. They also felt that the watch was too large and would be uncomfortable to wear while sleeping. None of the Test Pilots said they would purchase it for personal use or recommend it to a friend.

VibraLITE 8 Watch

April, 2012

The VibraLITE 8 is a watch with eight alarms which can be set independently to alert the user of appointments, special events or can be used as a medication reminder. It features a large LCD display and various alert signals such as vibrations or sounds.

Initially, the Technology Test Pilots thought the VibraLITE 8 would be a useful product. However, they found the directions, which were in very small print, complicated and difficult to follow, even just to set the time on the watch. Although they liked the concept, no one in the group would purchase this watch or recommend it to a friend.

Ameriphone Clarity XL-50 Amplified Telephone

March, 2012

The Ameriphone is an amplified telephone for those with a severe hearing loss. It has extra large, high contrast, back-lit buttons; an adjustable ringer; a bright visual ringer; and is hearing aid compatible.

This item was a crowd pleaser! The Test Pilots assigned perfect scores for practicality, usefulness and senior friendly design. It was noted to be helpful not only to those with hearing impairments, but also to those with visual impairments, as a large red button on the phone flashes when there is an incoming call.

The Ameriphone is moderately priced at $110-$160, but the Test Pilots agreed that they would recommend it to a friend.

Tek Pal Easy TV Remote

February, 2012

The Tek Pal is one of the highest rated devices evaluated by our Test Pilots. Nearly perfect scores were given for its effectiveness, simplicity and senior-friendly design.

This TV remote is a large, easy to hold device with only six buttons that light up when pressed – An on/off switch, mute, volume up and down and channel up and down buttons. It is simple to program, but can only be used with cable ready televisions, not those with cable or satellite boxes.  

With a price of only $17 to $20, all of the Test Pilots would recommend the Tek Pal Easy TV Remote to a friend.

TV Ears Wireless Headphone Listening System

February, 2012

TV Ears is a wireless assistive listening device for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. The unit consists of a base which connects to most televisions, and a set of headphones. It is able to run for six to eight hours on a full charge.

The Technology Test Pilots felt that the device was practical and easy to use once it was set up, however, they noticed some static that still made hearing the TV difficult. (It should be noted that a new model has replaced the unit that was tested.) They agreed that if the static could be reduced or eliminated, they would recommend this item to a friend.

Presto Computerless Email

January, 2012

Presto is a computerless email solution for those who do not have, or struggle to use a computer.

The Presto Printing Mailbox plugs directly into an existing standard phone line and outlet. Several times a day, messages are downloaded and printed out automatically. The user is able to receive emails, photos and PDF files, making it easier for them to stay connected to friends and family. One drawback, however, is that the user is unable to respond to these messages electronically.

The Test Pilots rated this device above average in all areas. They believed it would be a great option for staying in touch with people, without the hassle of using a computer. All of the testers said that they would recommend the Presto to a friend who didn’t use a computer.

The Presto Mailbox can be purchased for about $100. There is an additional monthly subscription/service fee which can vary depending on the type of service purchased.

Aukey Portable Magnifier

October, 2011

The Aukey Portable Magnifier is a pocket-sized magnifying device, ideal for reading small print such as that found on food labels, tags, menus, medication bottles, etc.

Its features include a 3.5" wide LCD color or black and white viewing screen, 15X or 17 X magnification, reading stand and a rechargable battery.

Our Technology Test Pilots rated this product above average for usefulness and effectiveness. They liked that the device was simple to operate - with only three tactile buttons - however, they felt that these buttons were rather small and difficult to see. But with a reasonable price of $280, the Test Pilots said they would recommend the Aukey Portable Magnifier to a friend with low vision.

True Speaking Bible

September, 2011

This month, the SilverSmart Technology Test Pilots evaluated the True Speaking Bible. This unit allows the user to listen to all the Books of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Users can jump from Book to Book or chapter to chapter with just the touch of a button.

The True Speaking Bible can run on fully charged batteries for up to 10 hours, can be plugged in or operate on its built-in solar powered batteries.

The Test Pilots scored this item above average for its effectiveness and usefulness. They found the voice of the reader clear and easy to understand. They, did, however, agree that the instruction manual is difficult to read, as it is written in very small print. All of them said they would recommend the True Speaking Bible to a friend.

Maxi Digital Personal Amplifier

July, 2011

The Maxi Digital Personal Amplifier is a hearing communication aid that uses state-of-the-art technology to bring out sound in music and television, and in small group conversations.

The amplifier consists of two pieces – the headphones and a remote, which has large tactile controls for adjusting the volume. The unit is user-friendly with no menus to follow. Simply plug the headphones (or ear buds) into the remote and surrounding sound is amplified. It comes equipped with batteries, a belt clip for portability and a cable kit for use with media equipment.

The SilverSmart Technology Test Pilots have given the amplifier the highest ratings of all products sampled in the past, due to its practicality, effectiveness and senior friendly design. The Test Pilots agreed that it would be a good investment for someone with a hearing impairment at just $140.

Moshi Voice Activated Digital Alarm Clock

June, 2011

The Moshi Voice Activated Digital Alarm Clock is designed for those with visual impairments. All of the settings - time, temperature and alarm sounds - are activated using voice commands. The clock has extra large numbers and a backlit nightlight.

The SilverSmart Technology Test Pilots practiced activating the features, and had mixed reviews about the Moshi. They agreed that the numbers are easy to read, but they had difficulty using the voice commands. They found that the voice commands must be spoken exactly as instructed or the Moshi will not respond. The date feature cannot be programmed by voice, but instead by using small buttons which the test pilots found difficult to operate.

Overall, the Moshi was found effective for announcing the current time and as an alarm clock, but was not recommended for any of its other features.

Jitterbug Cell Phone 

May, 2011

This flip-open cell phone is primarily geared toward older adults who want an easy-to-use phone without complicated features.

The phone has a large backlit keypad and color screen for easy dialing. It is hearing aid compatible and the padded earpiece reduces outside noise.

The Test Pilots read text messages, placed calls, added numbers to the phone book, and spoke with the operator. The group agreed that this phone is practical and performs just as it is advertised. Everyone said they would recommend the Jitterbug to a friend.

The Jitterbug is priced at $99.99 for the phone and offers calling plans starting at $14.99 per month, with no contracts required.

TapMemo

March, 2011

The TapMemo Voice Activated Personal Assistant is a hand-held device used to record, store and playback important information such as phone numbers, appointments or grocery lists.

The unit has a large function button, making it simple for the visually impaired to use. All actions are completed by pressing the button and using your voice to follow the commands it gives. The Test Pilots tested the unit by adding reminders, calendar events and phone numbers, the recalling the information using the voice commands.

The testers agreed that the unit was very easy to use, and would be helpful for someone with visual impairment. The found the cost of the unit to be reasonable, at just $160. However, it would take a fair amount of practice, they discovered, to learn the necessary voice commands, as the TapMemo will not function properly if the commands are spoken out of sequence. The instructions are provided on a CD for those who are unable to read small print.

Cook Magic Talking Microwave

February, 2011

The Cook Magic Talking Microwave Oven is designed for individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment.

The microwave has a talking feature that verbally guides the user through the cooking process. A notched knob helps the visually impaired user make selections by “clicking” to make selections. There are also several one-touch settings and instant settings for comnonly prepared foods.

Our Test Pilots evaluated the microwave by cooking some foods such as popcorn, pizza, soup and hot chocolate. It was determined that for the price, about $150, this microwave would be helpful for an individual with vision impairments, although they noted that it was a bit more complicated to learn than traditional microwaves. The evaluators agreed that it would be helpful if the microwave “talked” to them more to make it even easier to use. 

Resident Technology

Dakim's (m)Power: Residents can flex their brain power with Dakim's (m)Power cognitive fitness system. The touch screen based metal stimulation system offers a constantly changing series of rigorous, but entertaining, multimedia activities to help seniors preserve brain function. The system exercises both short and long term memory, visual spatial ability, critical thinking, calculation and language.

Posit Science Brain Fitness: Seniors can test their memory skills with the Posit Science Brain Fitness program. The program consists of six computer-based exercises designed to speed auditory processing, improve working memory, and encourage production of brain chemicals that enhance memory.

Posit Science InSight™: InSight is the second component of the Brain Fitness Program. It is also a computer-based program that features five different exercises that target visual processing tasks. Upon completion of this 40 hour training program, residents will be able to see more of what is around them, react to it more quickly and be more likely to remember it.

DanceTown: Dancetown is a revolutionary fitness system that combines innovation and technology to bring a new level of wellness to our residents. The dancer steps onto a colorful electronic dance platform and moves to the rhythm of the music while following the dance steps that appear on a monitor. A short dance session combines physical fitness, brain fitness and social interaction.

Touchtown TV+: Touchtown TV+ delivers community messages directly to residents through their existing televisions. By watching Touchtown's in-house TV channel, residents have instant access to community announcements, event schedules, dining menus and more from the comfort of their own apartments.

Passavant's TV Station: The Multimedia Studio is a complete audio and video workstation. Resident-run programming is aired daily, including campus activities and game shows, in addition to old-time favorites and educational programming. A digital recording studio allows residents to participate in music selections, slide development and voice-over narration.

Staff Technology

AccuNurse: AccuNurse is a voice-activated, hands-free documentation and communication system for Lutheran SeniorLife's nursing staff. This technology allows staff to review resident care plans, document care as it takes place and provide reports to management by listening and speaking confidentially into a headset. By providing access to up-to-date information, AccuNurse ensures more accurate care for our residents.

Care Tracker: Care Tracker is a unique wall-mounted data collection and reporting system which makes it easy for staff to quickly document resident care and observations. It provides caretakers with an accurate picture of a residents' true condition, ensuring quality care for each resident.