School’s out for summer, but Sarina Helmer and Arlene Schmid will always be able to look back on the time they spent together.
Helmer spent part of her senior year of high school putting together a living yearbook of sorts, an app-assisted video of Schmid’s life detailing everything from her days in the Girl Scouts to her life at EHM Senior Solutions’ Brecon Village in Saline, MI.
The two were paired at the start of the school year through an effort aimed at bridging the technology and age divides. Over 60 days, students were expected to learn about dementia, interact with their residents and package their life stories using It’s Never 2 Late’s FOCUS platform.
Long after the videos wrapped, most of the groups remain in contact. Helmer is interning this summer at Brecon’s Memory Support Center and plans to study social work in college.
“This project is a great example of giving older adults a personal connection to technology,” said Denise Rabidoux, EHM president and CEO. “The experience also helped to push past the misconception that people with dementia are unable to engage in a meaningful way and maintain relationships.”
EHM plans to continue the program next year.
From the July 01, 2018 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
