Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Tyze

‘SF Connected’ Blog Supports Connected Aging

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cropped-sfcbanner2We found this interesting post in the Department of Aging and Adult Services’ New Blog at sfconnected.org… 

A Framework for Understanding Technologies that Support Older Adults in Aging in Place

We are at the dawning of “Connected Aging” in which the growing array of Internet-based technologies and mobile devices increasingly will support older adults to age in place. Emerging technologies will enable both older adults and their caregivers to address a comprehensive range of health, social, and functional needs. Technology-based solutions that connect older adults to friends, family, and community are becoming more viable; older adults and their caregivers are growing increasingly tech savvy; technology usability is improving; and price points are descending.

This issue brief is intended to help decision makers in the health care, aging-services, and policy communities understand the emerging range of technologies that can empower older adults to remain independent and improve the capacity of formal and informal caregivers. To assist in better understanding the landscape, the issue brief describes a framework that organizes connected aging technologies into four main categories: body, home environment, community, and caregiving. It also identifies key emerging technologies, how the new era of connected aging is unfolding, and key challenges that face older adults and providers in maximizing the benefits of technology. -Center for Technology and Aging

Read the Center for Technology and Aging’s new issue brief, “The New Era of Connected Aging: A Framework for Understanding Technologies that Support Older Adults in Aging in Place.”

See other interesting highlights from the SF Connected blog at sfconnected.org.

City Hall Transformed to a Place of Technology Learning

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Thanks to Jack Chin, Tom Loftus and skilled folks at SFGovTV, we have featured highlights from the 2012 Aging and Disabilities Technology Summit to share and to remember. On May 15th, City Hall was transformed by the  team of organizations listed below to host a stimulating day of speakers, workshops and hands-on learning. What was highlighted that day will be happening all over the City at BTOP computer sites. To find a class near you, go to the SFConnected calendar at www.sfconnected.info.  For Community Living Campaign’s calendar of a social media classes, go to www.clcsocial.org or the calendar page on this blog.

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While CLC took the lead in organizing the event, it was made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors and organizational supporters:

Media Sponsors: Fox Channel 2, KTSF Channel 26, Univision – Channel 14 and Comcast

Event Sponsors: Family Caregiver Alliance, On Lok, San Francisco Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan and Verizon.

Event Supporters: Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Board of Supervisors, President David Chiu, SF Dept. of Aging and Adult Services, SF Dept. of Recreation and Parks, SF Dept. of Technology, SF Public Library, California Telephone Access Program, Community Technology Network, Community Living Campaign, Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), ReliaTech, Self-Help for the Elderly, San Francisco Interfaith Council, and Tyze Personal Networks.

 

Tools to Build and Connect Your Personal Network

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What is Tyze and why do I keep seeing and hearing about it here in San Francisco?

Tyze was developed by the PLAN Institute of Canada and San Francisco was an early Beta testing site, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

When life is challenging, you don’t have to go it alone if you have a network – a Tyze network.

With Tyze you rally a personal network – friends family, neighbors and more – and connect them securely over the Internet. Keep those close to you updated with stories and photos and collaborate together with user-friendly care coordination tools. Your data is secure and there is no advertising.

With Tyze you can do practical things to make life easier and keep organized. Stay in touch with friends and family, organize medical appointments, keep track of medications, schedule outings, share stories and photos, store private documents and much more.

Tyze is one of the important programs that are featured on the new BTOP computers arriving at senior and community centers across San Francisco.

Want to learn more? View this brief video tour of Tyze or visit www.tyze.ca.

Seniors Are Part of the Solution to Rebuilding Community

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In the early days of the Community Living Campaign, we struggled with how to develop the small, basic building blocks that make up the foundation of a grass-roots community organizing campaign – you know, the equivalent of the old fashioned house meeting.  The hope was to provide practical support to neighbors while  beginning to look more closely at the issues that help or hinder individuals from aging in community.     Fortunately, in those early days, we were introduced to Vickie Cammack and the work of PLAN and the PLAN Institute in Canada.   We learned (and continue to learn) so many useful and insightful things as we re-frame the issues related to living with a disability and being at home with growing old.   One story by Vickie Cammack really helped me see things differently.      Take a minute to read this story and let me know if you know a “Martha” – http://www.tyze.com/martha-has-not-left-the-neighbourhood/ .    Perhaps our neighbors who are aging  are not a problem to be solved, but part of the solution to rebuilding communities.

My friend Ruth Miller, pictures at her 91st Birthday Party, was like Martha, sometimes charming, sometimes demanding, but always interesting.  She brought together a community of people whose strongest connection was that they cared about Ruth.

In future posts, you will learn more about Ruth, Tyze and the power of relationships.