AT for Boomers and Seniors

Assistive Technology of Alaska

www.atlaak.org

AT for Boomers and Seniors: Maintaining Lifestyles As We Age

Kathy Privratsky and Cheryl Sennett


• CEUs are available for participating• 1.0 CEU for whole series or partial CEU for

each session attended

CEU AnnouncementCEU Announcement


AT Resources - ATLAAT Resources - ATLA

What is ATLA?

• Assistive Technology Library of Alaska (ATLA)• Federal Tech Act Project for the State• Provide: Awareness, Demonstrations, Information & Assistance,

Loans, Trainings / Webinars• Focus: Vision, Hearing, Communication, Computer Access, ECU• Assessments / Consultations• Third Thursday at 3:30 Webinars• Sales of AT


• Describe what AT is and why it is important to consider for this age group

• Identify three AT devices or products to consider

• Identify three resources that offer information about AT for boomers and seniors.

OutcomesOutcomes


What is Assistive Technology?What is Assistive Technology?What is Assistive Technology?What is Assistive Technology?


– We all want to be able to participate in life and do the same things we always did.

– When our eyes begin to fail we get glasses

– When our ears fail we get a hearing aid.

– Using Assistive Technology is a natural part of the aging process.

Why AT in the Senior Years?Why AT in the Senior Years?Why AT for Boomers and Seniors?Why AT for Boomers and Seniors?


Vision

Hearing

Memory

Communication

Recreation

Mobility

Maintaining Lifestyles As We AgeMaintaining Lifestyles As We AgeMaintaining Lifestyles as we AgeMaintaining Lifestyles as we Age


• What are the activities the person enjoys and could continue to enjoy with AT?

• Safety (call for assistance and maintain safety in the home)

• Comfort – the person will actually use the device

• Making every day tasks easier with AT

Considering ATConsidering ATConsidering ATConsidering AT


Merlin CCTV

Handheld Video Magnifier

Lighted Magnifiers

Eye-Pal –Combination reader/magnifier

AT for VisionAT for Vision


• Bold writing pens• Contrast and low sheen• Extra lighting / more concentrated• Self threading needles• Stand magnifiers• Talking telephones• Talking watches, clocks and thermostats

AT for VisionAT for Vision


• Zoomtext – Magnifies text across all computer programs up to 36x

• WebEyes- Magnification for Internet Explorer from 4-144pt

• Mozilla Firefox Web Browser (free) Comes with built in magnification-increase magnification with NoSquint

free add on for Firefox, allows settings for background, color, remembers settings

Web Access - VisionWeb Access - Vision


AT for HearingAT for Hearing

Pocket Talkers

Amplified & Big Button Phones

Loop systems

FM Systems

Alert Systems

Easy to Use Cell Phones



• Alert systems (phones, doorbell, motion)• Amplified telephones or added amplifier• FM systems (theatre, church)• Hearing aids and loop system• Personal listening devices• Telecommunication devices (TTY, text msg)• Vibrating pagers / alert systems



AT for MemoryAT for Memory


Talking Photo Album Automatic Faucet

iTouch / iPhone Community Suite Pill reminder /alarm

Simple Photo Phone

• Auto shut off devices (i.e. coffee pots, irons)• Hand held devices (all-in-one) • Medication dispensers (daily, weekly,

complex)• Microwave or toaster ovens w/ auto shut off• Reminder items to help prompt

– Automatic water on/off– Alarms / voice reminders of appointments, meds

AT for MemoryAT for Memory


AT for CommunicationAT for Communication


Low-tech boards

iTouch - Communication Application

Voice output device

Text CommunicationHigh-Tech communication

AT for MobilityAT for Mobility


walkers

Specialized wheelchairs

Scooters Seat Assists

Wheelchairs

• Bath benches• Canes, walkers, scooters, wheelchairs• Portable grab bars• Ramps• Rotating disks – out of car, out of tub• Seat assists (getting out of a chair)• Borrow vs purchase

AT for MobilityAT for Mobility


AT for RecreationAT for Recreation


Wii games

Card shuffler Needle Threader Large Print Cards

iTouch Kindle or Nook

• Adapted exercise bikes• Gardening tools• Card shufflers, card holders, large print cards• Hand held electronic card games• iPod and iTouch• Large print books, crossword puzzles,

embroidery patterns• Stand magnifiers and extra light

AT for RecreationAT for Recreation


AT Resources - DemonstrationsAT Resources - DemonstrationsDemonstration Centers

• Alaska Center for Blind and Visually Impaired (ACBVI)• ATLA• Independent Living Centers• Special Education Service Agency (SESA)• Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation• Other

• Demonstrations provide enough information about a piece of AT so a person can make an informed decision


AT Resources - www.aktradingpost.orgAT Resources - www.aktradingpost.org


AT Resources - ReutilizationAT Resources - ReutilizationRecycling / Reuse (All Ages)

• ACBVI• AK Trading Post (www.aktradingpost.org)• ATLA• Craig’s List and eBay• Independent Living Centers Loan Closets• Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs• Anyone can add items to the Trading Post

NOTE: Assistive Technology (AT) and Durable Medical Equipment (DME)


AT Resources - InternetAT Resources - InternetVision Resources:

• Firefox Web Browser: www.mozilla.com• No Squint Add on - Firefox: urandom.ca/nosquint/• Webeyes : www.webeyes.us• Zoomtext : www.aisquared.com


http://www.mozilla.com/

http://urandom.ca/nosquint/

http://www.webeyes.us/

http://www.aisquared.com/

Just a few of the resources from this presentation

• AARP: www.aarp.org/internetresources• Assistive Technology Services

www.assistivetechnologyservices.com/personal.aspx • Care4U www.care4u.com/kitchen.html• Epill www.epill.com• Family Village www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/Mall.htm• Independent Care Products: www.independentcareproducts.com/• Medication Reminder System www.medication-reminders.com/• Page Minder www.pageminderinc.com/• Senior Net: www.seniornet.org/jsnet/

AT Resources - InternetAT Resources - Internet


http://www.aarp.org/internetresources

Questions?

Q & A Q & A
