Health and Fitness : Seniors in Assisted Living See Skype as Solution for Staying in Touch

By Tom Bedwell

Distance can make the heart grow fonder, as the saying goes, but when one’s life is in the care of hospice distance can be a painful reality, which prevents relationships from being realized at an important period of life.

Such is the case for Windsor Manor in Vinton, Iowa resident, Gertie, who is 90 years (young) and recently overcame a great distance to re-connect with her sister in North Dakota.

While many of us have become accustomed to using video for everyday communication at work, or on our iPads using FaceTime, the technology is not as pervasive for people in senior housing communities. Fortunately, the staff at Windsor Manor in Vinton took it upon themselves to find a solution to Gertie’s inability to see her sister.

As Carrie Hantz, executive director at the community explained, an innovative team member came up with the idea of setting up a laptop and helping to create a Skype connection between Gertie and her sister.

“Nancy Schmitz , our life enrichment director, began to understand that Gertie was upset about the prospect of not seeing her sister again, and given Gertie’s inability to move too far across rooms in the community, let alone across the country, she decided to figure out a solution,” said Hantz.

Ater setting up the laptop and establishing the connection, Schmitz sat by to help if needed while Gertie and her sister began talking and seeing each other. At one point, Gertie reached out her arms toward the screen and was moved to tears with some sisterly giggles in between.

“I didn’t expect Gertie was going to be able to see or comprehend Skyping but nothing could be further from the truth. Gertie and her sister connected instantly in a wonderful way and were both moved to tears and giggles. It makes it all worthwhile to witness something like that. I look forward to skyping with more seniors,” said Schmitz.

When asked if she’d like to do this again, Gertie responded with a tear running down her face, and nodded yes.

And Gertie may not be the only one to enjoy this new form of communication. Hantz explains that plans are in the works to setup a mobile Skype station, which will work on a sign-up schedule and be rolled to rooms in the community where folks can use it to video conference with friends and family.