A stimulating experience: residents will warm up to new technology that tickles their brains.

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When it comes to computers and electronic equipment of any kind, the term "user friendly" takes on a new meaning when senior citizens are involved. Those baby boomer parents in their 70s, 80s and older lived in a largely manual world, despite witnessing many advancements in automation technology.

As a result, many seniors are intimidated by anything computer-oriented and are reluctant to learn anything about electronic devices, in spite of the benefits they may offer. Research from Jackson, MS-based American HealthTech bears this out as 41% of surveyed seniors between the ages of 70 and 75 said they either don't use or are uncomfortable with using a personal computer. That number grows to 63% for those over age 75.

Yet the same study showed that 96% of these seniors were comfortable using home entertainment systems like their television--which flicked on the idea light bulb for American HealthTech CEO Bill Caldwell: If seniors know their way around a TV remote, why not let the remote control more than TV programs?

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The result is MyCommunityConnection, a suite of seven online services designed to promote seniors' health, well-being and independence. Because the system requires only a television and an Internet connection, there is no need for a PC--just a simple set-top box. And for users who are a little more tech-savvy, there is an option of accessing the service through a standard Internet browser on a PC.

"The only thing special about the remote control is that it's more senior-friendly than most," Caldwell said. "It's a universal remote that can be used to control nearly any TV, VCR or DVD player in addition to the set top box that connects MyCommunityConnection to the Internet. The remote we've selected does have larger and more readable buttons and numbers, and it glows in the dark for better visibility in poor lighting."

The finished product evolved considerably from the original 2004 concept, which designers called an "interactive bulletin board." Caldwell explained that the core idea was to place a touch-screen monitor in a resident's room that would allow an unobtrusive way for them to check in daily, to receive timed medication reminders and to interact with community services and activities.

"We had the concept right, but the deployment needed work," he said. "So we set about finding an even friendlier and more affordable vehicle to integrate the concept right into the life flow of the residents. Our research led us to a unique method of delivering the solution over the resident's television set and using a simple TV remote control as the 'keyboard.' And by utilizing a simple, low-cost set top box rather than a computer, the financial barrier to adoption was eliminated and MyCommunityConnection was on its way to market."

'NANA' TECHNOLOGY

Launched at last fall's American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's (now LeadingAge's) annual meeting and exposition, MyCommunityConnection generated excitement among attendees. Andrew Carle, director of George Mason University's senior living administration management track and self-ascribed "Nana" technology advocate, understands why.

"The tenets of 'Nana' technology are that it should either be able to improve quality of life for seniors without the need of human assistance, or make the human assistance they do require more efficient and productive," he said. "This technology has the potential to do both. It represents an excellent application of 'Nana' technology by providing access to the electronic communication world for those otherwise unable to do so. It also can address what we know to be among the largest drivers of resident complaints--lack of communication." MyCommunityConnection addresses the communication issue by offering nine key functions: a pop-up daily check in service, automated community service requests, interactive community and personalized calendars with reminders, daily menu selection, social networking with other residents, pictorial directories of fellow residents with interest profiles, pictorial staff directories and outside service directories, wellness tracking with interactive medication management and a resident survey tool.

"The system offers a full gamut of services under a single umbrella, making it more of a comprehensive 'life portal' rather than a single-purpose offering," Caldwell said. "Many of those who saw this value at [LeadingAge] went on to elaborate about how the umbrella might later provide a softer front end for a variety of other specialty software and devices on the market."

Carle says the system also has "value-added" potential on the community side to both reduce costs through increased efficiency and by providing a marketing advantage.

"The one concern I have, though, is the storing of medical and personal information on a central server and the threat of the information on that server being compromised," he said. "But overall, I like the looks of it."

System users need not worry about their personal information being at risk, Caldwell assured.