How Technology Changes Lives: Online Biographies Prove Useful for Person-Centered Care, Family Involvement, and Intergenerational Programming
LifeBio works with dozens of senior living and senior services organizations across the US and Canada. Here are 3 ways that technology impacts lives....
1. Person-centered care - How can people like Robert and Ruby be deeply known? Only by asking the right questions and exploring who people truly are. Life has been an incredible adventure full of people, places, and experiences. Capturing life stories gives us an opportunity to listen and learn and adapt life enrichment programming to what people would really enjoy the most. To know is to love. For example, as part of the LifeBio Certified Community program, communities are given licenses to LifeBio.com to capture the stories of residents in skilled nursing, AL, and IL. Tech-savvy residents do it themselves with a LifeBio.com membership provided. Family members or volunteers can also help by asking just a few questions. Type the answers online and watch a beautiful story unfold whether someone answers 10, 50, or 200 autobiography questions.
2. Family Involvement whether near or far - It's tough when family members aren't local, but collaborating via the web to build mom's story or grandpa's story is one great way that family CAN be involved--whether they live near or faraway. Now when Betty's daughter calls on Sunday night they can chat about Betty's childhood memories or about her wedding day. Less conversation about the weather, health, and breakfast. MORE conversation that is meaningful and building a stronger relationship. "What do I talk about?" is now no longer a problem.
3. Intergenerational Programming that works - Older adults are a wealth of wisdom and experience. It's just a matter of building a little bridge to connect them with local high schoolers or local college students. Youth are open to REAL relationships. Imagine--eye-to-eye, face-to-face communication--not just texting. And they love technology! So use that to everyone's advantage. Also, Baby Boomers are seeking meaningful volunteer opportunities. Use the computer in your community's library to bring the generations together. What a beautiful relationship will unfold as questions are asked and the biography builds with every visit. Grandchildren could be helping too of course!
Every person is amazingly unique with extraordinary stories to share. Communities focused on person-centered care and using technology to their advantage will transform lives.
How LifeBio works in different areas:
• INDEPENDENT LIVING - Computer-savvy residents and their family members will enjoy accessing LifeBio.com to type their autobiographies online. The LifeBio 101 autobiography class uses the Life Story Journal and class guidebooks to capture life stories in a group setting during 8 weeks of lively discussions. The hippocampus area of the brain is put to work---recalling interesting people, events, memories, and life lessons through the years. The class also offers meaningful social engagement and challenging learning.
• ASSISTED LIVING - Assisted living residents could volunteer to work with local high school or college students who will capture their stories at www.lifebio.com. LifeBio's Story Cards provide just the right questions for weekly reminiscence discussion groups. Also, the LifeBio 101 classes have been used in small groups of 3-5 people in assisted living. Research shows that basic writing and reading outloud stimulates the frontal cortex of the brain--so residents are encouraged to write even short sentences (if possible) and read back what they have written. Neighbors become true friends.
• MEMORY CARE - LifeBio's MemoryBio curriculum is available on the web or in book form. It has 35 interesting topics for discussion with over 200 brilliantly-colorful photographs and thought-provoking, simple questions provided for staff members, family, or volunteers to use for conversation starters. Now MemoryBio can also be projected onto a large screen for groups. Answers are sometimes recorded in special journals.
• SKILLED NURSING/REHABILITATION and HOME HEALTH/HOSPICE CARE -
One-on-one visits are enhanced with capturing memories at www.lifebio.com or using Story Cards, the Life Story Journal, or the Memory Journal. Also, adult or youth volunteers enjoy interviewing residents and creating a Storyboard with photos and memories displayed to celebrate people's interesting lives. LifeBio is great for speech and occupational therapy too. Typing, writing, and speaking skills are improved.
LifeBio impacts ALL areas and helps your overall operations
1. Person-centered care - How can people like Robert and Ruby be deeply known? Only by asking the right questions and exploring who people truly are. Life has been an incredible adventure full of people, places, and experiences. Capturing life stories gives us an opportunity to listen and learn and adapt life enrichment programming to what people would really enjoy the most. To know is to love. For example, as part of the LifeBio Certified Community program, communities are given licenses to LifeBio.com to capture the stories of residents in skilled nursing, AL, and IL. Tech-savvy residents do it themselves with a LifeBio.com membership provided. Family members or volunteers can also help by asking just a few questions. Type the answers online and watch a beautiful story unfold whether someone answers 10, 50, or 200 autobiography questions.
2. Family Involvement whether near or far - It's tough when family members aren't local, but collaborating via the web to build mom's story or grandpa's story is one great way that family CAN be involved--whether they live near or faraway. Now when Betty's daughter calls on Sunday night they can chat about Betty's childhood memories or about her wedding day. Less conversation about the weather, health, and breakfast. MORE conversation that is meaningful and building a stronger relationship. "What do I talk about?" is now no longer a problem.
Every person is amazingly unique with extraordinary stories to share. Communities focused on person-centered care and using technology to their advantage will transform lives.
How LifeBio works in different areas:
• INDEPENDENT LIVING - Computer-savvy residents and their family members will enjoy accessing LifeBio.com to type their autobiographies online. The LifeBio 101 autobiography class uses the Life Story Journal and class guidebooks to capture life stories in a group setting during 8 weeks of lively discussions. The hippocampus area of the brain is put to work---recalling interesting people, events, memories, and life lessons through the years. The class also offers meaningful social engagement and challenging learning.
• ASSISTED LIVING - Assisted living residents could volunteer to work with local high school or college students who will capture their stories at www.lifebio.com. LifeBio's Story Cards provide just the right questions for weekly reminiscence discussion groups. Also, the LifeBio 101 classes have been used in small groups of 3-5 people in assisted living. Research shows that basic writing and reading outloud stimulates the frontal cortex of the brain--so residents are encouraged to write even short sentences (if possible) and read back what they have written. Neighbors become true friends.
• MEMORY CARE - LifeBio's MemoryBio curriculum is available on the web or in book form. It has 35 interesting topics for discussion with over 200 brilliantly-colorful photographs and thought-provoking, simple questions provided for staff members, family, or volunteers to use for conversation starters. Now MemoryBio can also be projected onto a large screen for groups. Answers are sometimes recorded in special journals.
• SKILLED NURSING/REHABILITATION and HOME HEALTH/HOSPICE CARE -
One-on-one visits are enhanced with capturing memories at www.lifebio.com or using Story Cards, the Life Story Journal, or the Memory Journal. Also, adult or youth volunteers enjoy interviewing residents and creating a Storyboard with photos and memories displayed to celebrate people's interesting lives. LifeBio is great for speech and occupational therapy too. Typing, writing, and speaking skills are improved.
LifeBio impacts ALL areas and helps your overall operations
Comments
Great post!~
GrandCare Systems
www.grandcare.com