How do you explain the internet, e-mail, and the concept of a “Wi-Fi” network to someone who can remember a time when you would have to wait weeks for a letter to arrive in the mail or connect through an operator to telephone someone? This is a question that the activity staff of the Read Cloister has been happily figuring out over the past few months. Due to the generous donation of an Apple iPad from Bishop Gadsden resident Dr. Curtis Wise, the Read Cloister has officially entered the future! The residents have been using their new tool daily to play games, read the news, check on the weather, and discover the endless possibilities that having a very fun, very user friendly piece of technology can provide.
Lucia Heins with Carol Cebulka emailing for the first time on the iPad!
All fun aside, one of the greatest things the iPad has made available has been a way to communicate with our friends and family. In the age of the dwindling handwritten letter and digital cameras, our residents has been able to instantly receive letters and photos through e-mails from their children and grandchildren and respond back. One daughter was delighted that her 96 year old father responded to an e-mail that she had sent. Another resident was able to listen to a link of an NPR program that her son had sent her. One resident connected with a cousin she had not talked to for years and has since been sharing stories, pictures, and updating each other on their lives. Being able to see your year old granddaughter swimming in the pool? Priceless. The opportunities to connect and share seem endless with the introduction of our new Ipad.
Recently at an afternoon activity after reading an article from a website, looking up the answer to a question on Wikipedia, and watching a Youtube video, I knew we were officially a part of the information age when on whim we decided to do that one little thing that everyone secretly has done but may not admit. We “Googled “ourselves. How many 96 year olds can claim that?
Post by Carol Cebulka, Read Cloister Activities Assistant.
Nice article, Carol – thanks for bringing us up to date.
CarolMac
Wow! That really sums it up and warms the heart at the same time. Thank you so much Carol. What a great start to my day!