QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Birdsong Tablet: Easy to use in-room technology Whereas the iN2L system is intended large- ly for group settings, the Birdsong Tablet is similar technology made for individual use. It is based on technology developed by iN2L and contains extensive brain-building, educational, and entertainment content in- cluding therapeutic activities, games, music, videos, and more. It also enables residents to interact with family and friends through video chat and messaging. The tablet and its features are the result of
award-winning research known as the Bird- song Initiative, which was conducted at West- minster-Canterbury in Virginia. The study showed that older adults had improved brain health, better quality of life, lower blood pressure, and less depression when they had access to easy to use in-room technology with content tailored to their interests and needs. Residents’ use of the tablets also resulted in less stress for caregivers. The tablet and the initiative are named in honor of Sue and George Birdsong, who funded the research. The sturdy medical-grade tablets are
available in 10, 18, and 21-inch screen sizes. They include a RFID chip that will allow nurses to open resident medical records for bedside charting.
A resident completes a puzzle on his personal Birdsong Tablet.
tap. A few more taps take the user to the specifi c content they want. In addition to the preloaded content, users can access the community’s resident hub website to view menus, see the activity schedule, and watch recordings of on-site classes, ser- mons, and community meetings. Virtually any Android-based app can be added to the system. Communities can add their own programming and choose to have the tablets branded with their logos.
“Children and grandchildren of residents have said that their visits are so much richer because they have more to talk about and more to do now,” Unkle said.
A primary goal of the project was to cre-
ate an aff ordable system that almost anyone can use. “It’s a tablet designed for older adults, including those with dementia,” said Ben Unkle, CEO of Westminster-Can- terbury. Ninety percent of residents in the study were able to use the tablet on their own after a tutorial period. Content is accessed by six large icons
or “buttons” on the main screen that lead users to categories of content with one
26 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JULY/AUGUST 2018 Engaging with the tablet has been tru-
ly life-changing for some residents. One resident who was depressed experienced a marked improvement in mood after he began using it to listen to his favorite music. Another resident, a native of Greece, initially refused to use the new technology. After a volunteer showed him how to access Greek travel vid- eos, music, and newspapers, the man quickly became an avid user of the tablet. Resident social engagement also improves
with use of the tablet. “Children and grand- children of residents have said that their visits are so much richer because they have more to talk about and more to do now,” Unkle said. Residents can play games with their families or explore their family heri- tage together, for example. Beyond its value to residents, the tablets
have numerous benefi ts for staff . They can watch a funny video or listen to music with a resident. When a resident is agitated, a staff member can grab the tablet and quick- ly access a laughing baby video or play a soothing song. Use of the tablets also reduc- es wandering and fall risks because residents spend more time enjoying the content. “If the residents are happier, the staff is happi- er,” Unkle said. Simplifi ed technology is not just for to-
day’s seniors. Younger generations who are already comfortable using technology will most likely want it to be easier as they get older. “Even for people who were brought up using computers every day, as memory and cognition fades, we’re going to want something simple, with bigger buttons and fewer of them,” Unkle said. Technological advancements like these help to keep seniors involved in the world around them. The more they stay involved, the better their senior years can be.
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