Funds enable Elmview residents to enjoy virtual adventures
Residents at Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA’s) Elmview Care Home in Regina are getting new technology to help promote mental alertness and interconnectedness, while having a whole lot of fun. The Elmview Resident and Family Support Group (ERFSG) has made several purchases for technology items with funding from the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program ($25,000) and local fund-raising efforts ($3,000).
“They love the Obie,” said Lawry Tardif, recreation supervisor.
The Obie device is a projector that casts games and activities onto tabletops or floors. Users interact with them through touch, using hands, feet or even pool noodles. Activities include things like Whac-A-Mole and a playable drum kit.
The two virtual reality headsets let users take virtual adventures. Sean Louvel, chair of the resident and family support group, said the headsets will be useful during outbreaks when people are restricted to their rooms, or for those who just want to “walk” down the street they grew up on.
Other purchases with the funds include three laptops, eight tablets and charging stations, more than a dozen wireless headsets, several Bluetooth speakers, two digital picture frames and an upgraded TV and sound system with Smart capabilities.
“Not everyone can afford a laptop or electronic devices,” said Louvel, who has raised funds in various capacities for Elmview and multiple other care homes over the past several years. “Fundraising helps fill these gaps.”
An SHA staff member and volunteers will provide training so residents can fully enjoy the new purchases.
ERFSG has operated for more than 25 years as a charitable, voluntary board incorporated for the benefit of Elmview long-term care facility residents and families. The group fundraises regularly to purchase items for Elmview.