I've been coaching my son Greg's basketball team since he was in the fourth grade. We both enjoy our roles and have fun being together, though at times our patience with each other is somewhat tested. In a game in our first season together, I motioned for my son to go into the game early in the second half. When he got into the game, the ball immediately came to him. He looked left, looked right, saw an opening and dribbled the ball towards.... the other end of the court! My son had forgotten that at half time, the teams change ends, and he had dribbled the wrong way. Embarrassed and red-faced, he yelled out as he walked by, shoulders slumped, "why didn't you remind me"?
It's now years later, and since that game, each time my son goes into the game in the second half, I smile and say "Greg, remember we are now going this way" and point in the correct direction. Greg looks at me, winks and says, "got it."
Why do I recount this story now and what can senior living communities and home health agencies learn from my experience coaching Greg? We all need reminders sometimes. For seniors, who are experiencing the common slowing of cognitive abilities, a simple reminder can be the difference between being healthy, active and engaged in community activities and being alone.
At VoiceFriend, we have developed a solution that automates many of the routine reminders and notifications that seniors need and staff are too busy to provide. These simple reminder messages ensure seniors are active and engaged in activities, families are aware of updates and care plans, and staff are involved in professional training and aware of work openings. Our solution is making a difference in senior living communities and for the seniors in their care. Attendance at activities increases by up to 40%, operating expenses decrease, and staff become more productive.
As Julie Zimmerman, Director of Activities at The Herrick House, a vibrant assisted living community in Beverly, MA, recounted to me regarding an activity reminder she sent out, “A resident has been thanking me daily for the exercise reminder as she often dozes off before exercise. The reminder calls have not only been reminding her but waking her in time for her to attend."
Whether it's telling my son in which direction to shoot the basketball, or activity and wellness plan messages for a senior, sometimes all we need is a little reminder.
Bruce Baron is the CEO of VoiceFriend. He can be reached at bruce.baron@voicefriend.net. To reach VoiceFriend call 781-996-3123 or email at sales@voicefriend.net.