In the summer of 2023, Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) launched Life | Home | Tech (LHT) to support individuals to gain a greater level of independence, feel safer in their homes, and increase joyful living. LHT uses technology solutions to improve the quality of life for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, autism, and older adults.
With the support of several grants, including one from the Grotta Fund for Older Adults, a fund of JCF of Greater MetroWest, LHT provides educational opportunities to community members, so that they can better understand how enabling technology can make a difference in their life, or the life of someone they love. Services include talks with community organizations and caregiver groups, and tours of the JSDD: Life | Home | Tech Demonstration Home. LHT also provides personalized Technology Assessments, so that individuals can meet with a team member to discuss needs and recommendations that could benefit themselves or a loved one.
The team is working diligently to ensure that the technology they recommend is accessible, user-friendly, and tailored to the specific needs of each individual.
For example, Joe, a man with down syndrome in his upper 50’s, likes to keep active but struggles to remember his schedule. With input from the LHT team, Joe now uses an Amazon Echo Show, which reminds him of his appointments and activities. He also uses the Echo Show to play music, find out the weather and look up recipes. He’s enjoying how much more self-sufficient he can be.
Donna, a woman who lives in her own apartment in a supported, residential building, loves to cook but her caregivers mentioned that she sometimes forgets to turn off the stove. After a consultation with Donna, LHT Program Manager Susan Nasberg-Abrams recommended an induction cooktop, which is a safer cooking device. Caregivers have since noted the change they see in Donna, as she now safely prepares most of her meals on her own. “It’s so exciting to see Donna feel more confident with the freedom she now has to make herself scrambled eggs, pasta and more,” Susan said.
The LHT team discussed simple lighting options with Sarah, an older adult who lives alone and has concerns about falling. She decided to put motion sensor lights in her bedroom, hallway and bathroom, which helps her when she gets up at night.
These technologies not only provide peace of mind for individuals but also for their families and caregivers.
JSDD’s Life | Home | Tech initiative has launched a survey to learn more about older adults’ experiences with technology. If you are 65 or older, we invite you to take this survey by clicking here and sharing it with others. Your feedback will help JSDD further develop our program to support aging in place in our community.
Please reach out to Susan Nasberg-Abrams ([email protected]) with any questions.