Focus on Blogs: Cool Chicks from History

blog iconIf you look on the right side of your screen and scroll down a bit on our blog home page, you’ll see our “Blogroll,” a list of blogs that EngAGE likes to follow. We hope you’ll take a look at them, too, and to facilitate that, we thought we’d spotlight another one.

Today, we’d like to mention a new-to-us blog called “Cool Chicks from History.” The anonymous blogger says it’s about “things I like: suffragettes, war workers, factory girls, socialites who got stuff done, ladies who ruled countries, and women who changed the world, even if it was just a little bit.” You’ll find a great collection of photographs of those women, such as the one at left: “Frances Pepper (left) and Elizabeth Smith (right) working in the offices of The Suffragist, the weekly journal published by the Congressional Union and National Woman’s Party from 1913 to 1921.”

Let us know if you like this blog as much as we do!

 

Posted in Focus on Blogs | Leave a comment

EngAGE Senior Olympics: October 15th


The annual EngAGE Senior Olympics will take place on October 15th at San Gabriel High School. Competitions will include arts and crafts, performance, walking and other activities. The event is open to all EngAGE Community residents. The sign-up deadline is September 28th, so if you read this in time and would like to compete, contact your Site Leader right away!

Las Olimpiadas, Sabado, 15 de Octubre, San Gabriel High School! Para asistir, inscribase de inmediato- Ultimo dia de inscripción es el 28 de Septiembre!

 

Posted in Community Cup, Events, Exercise/Sports | Leave a comment

Simplified Computers for Seniors

Inner Life Of NumbersIf you’re reading this on your own computer right now, you already have some knowledge about how computers work. But many older people find using a computer daunting. Would the process be more inviting if there were no keyboard and everything could be done by touching the screen?

A new, simplified computer that offers that kind of interface is being marketed to seniors. It’s called Telikin and it’s designed to be “an easy-to-use, easy-to-read touch-screen computer (although a keyboard is provided, for those so inclined) that comes with software fully installed.” It’s no bargain at $699 for the 18.5″ or $999 for the larger 20″ monitor, but ease of use is the selling point.

“The interface is dominated by a row of big, blue buttons down the left side of the screen, with labels like Email, Photos, Calendar, Web and so forth. Large windows display content, and emails use a big, bold font for easy reading. The home page prominently displays news headlines and weather, and even a quote of the day. There is a built-in feature called Tech Buddy that allows a friend or relative to remotely take over the computer, with permission, to provide help.”

According to one reviewer, Telikin still has signifiant software bugs that need to be worked out, so investigate thoroughly before buying if you’re interested in it.

There are alternatives to consider, too, including other manufacturers of simplified computers for seniors; Kiwi PC is an example. Hewlitt Packard offers computers that come with already-installed “user-friendly software specifically geared to senior living.” Software such as BigScreenLive that can be installed on any PC is available. The user-friendly, touch screen Apple iPad is also an option.

Would something simpler make you or a senior you know more interested in using a computer?

(EngAGE has no financial interest in any of the companies or products mentioned and recommends that you do research before making any purchases.)

Posted in Technology | 1 Comment

Senior Housing Options: Massachusetts

Home-Sweet-HomeEngAGE is always interested in learning about housing options for seniors in other parts of the country. Here are three stories from Massachusetts that we think you’ll find interesting, too:

Amesbury Housing Authority’s Heritage Towers is part of a “supportive housing program” in Amesbury.

The next two stories both involve converting a school into senior residences. Pleasant Street School in Ayer is a “$6 million transformation of the historic vacant school house into one of a handful of facilities in Massachusetts geared specifically to allow seniors to ‘age in place’ as an alternative to nursing home residency.” In Lee, Crossway Tower is a 13-unit annex of affordable one-bedroom apartments. The new facility joins Crossway Village, which consists of 38 one-bedroom apartments that were created five years ago in the other two-thirds of the High Street building. “This is a shining example of what senior housing could and should be,” Elder Services Executive Director Robert Dean said.

Image credit: lsqc at stock.xchng

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment

National Senior Center Month

SENIOR-SERVICESDale at Transition Aging Parents wrote:

“I recall my mother complaining back in the early 1980s.  She told me my grandmother absolutely refused to go back to their local Senior Center, because, as my grandmother put it, ‘the center made me feel like a child.  They sat us in front of an old-time movie and gave us each a cup of popcorn and a small coke.’

Sound familiar? A similar observation about life in senior housing facilities motivated EngAGE Executive Director Tim Carpenter to create EngAGE (see Tim’s TEDxSoCal presentation here).

Just as housing options have changed and improved, thanks to programs like EngAGE, senior centers now offer many more options and services to area residents. Click here for information about senior centers in the Los Angeles area; check your city or county government pages for centers near you.

 

Posted in Retirement/Senior Services | Leave a comment

TimeSlips: Creative Storytelling Project

WRITINGTimeSlips is an exciting new free interactive resource for storytelling designed to support growth and learning with people with dementia and their caregivers — but it’s fun for everyone. The website launches this weekend, but EngAGE Blog readers can get a sneak preview:

 

HEALTH“Families wrestling with dementia are commonly consumed with the daily challenges of managing care,” says Anne Basting, PhD, Director of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Center on Age & Community. “The new website provides a creative and positive way to engage and communicate that is not focused on the disease, but rather on growing, learning, and playing together.”

TimeSlips allows people with dementia to use free association to create original stories, using a variety of fun images and open-ended questions as prompts. This replaces the pressure to remember and the fear of saying something wrong or embarrassing with the pleasure of engaging the imagination.

TimeSlips.org and the companion online training have been endorsed by people with dementia and leaders in the fields of aging services, the arts, education and civic engagement. “The revelation and realization that, ‘I can’t remember, but I can IMAGINE!’ blessed my mind, heart and soul. I hope I remember that until I can’t remember!” said recently diagnosed Dave Sheehan, about the new online training.

The new web site enables anyone with an Internet connection to create stories with loved ones, friends or residents, regardless of where they live, and creates new opportunities to communicate with people with dementia.

The in-person version of the TimeSlips improvisational storytelling method was especially designed to foster communication with people with cognitive disabilities like dementia.  Peer-reviewed research suggests that TimeSlips storytelling activities improve communication and increase the pleasure and quality of life of people with dementia. In long term care facilities, it has been shown to increase social engagement between staff and residents. Since 1998, TimeSlips has trained more than 2,000 professional facilitators in the approach.

Visitors can use the website for free and without training, but are encouraged to take the new online training if they use the method with groups of people with dementia in professional or supportive settings. TimeSlips also offers individual and organizational certification.

For more information, please visit www.timeslips.org or contact TimeSlips

Contributed by EngAGE Executive Director Tim Carpenter

Posted in Learning | Leave a comment

Improv Everywhere: Black Tie Beach Party

Masks with the theatre concept“Improv Everywhere is a New York City-based prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places.  Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 100 missions involving tens of thousands of undercover agents.”

For the Second Annual Black Tie Beach, hundreds of participants spent a day at Rockaway Beach in black tie attire.  They covered a half mile-long stretch with a diverse group of people of all ages laying out, playing games, and swimming in the ocean in formal wear. “Agents” were instructed to find cheap tuxedos and ball gowns at thrift stores for the occasion.  The event also happened on the same day in five other cities around the world, including Sydney, Australia and Malmö, Sweden. See a 2-1/2 minute video and a selection of more photos here. (One of the pranksters was 90!)

 

Posted in Acting, FYI | Leave a comment