Jewish Home Lifecare :: Caring as individual as you

Insight for Trustees March 2010: Elder Lifestyles

Kittay Resident Goes Virtual

Insight for Trustees March 2010: Elder Lifestyles

Kittay Resident Goes Virtual

Ever since she moved to Kittay House last July, Pearl Brown’s family has watched her thrive socially, personally and now, technologically.  Pearl has evolved into a tech savvy senior, unafraid of a computer and ready to take on the new learning possibilities that a computer affords her.

While Kittay House provides a computer lab with multiple PC’s for tenant use, Pearl has her own computer in her apartment. Initially, she limited her computer interactions to on-line card games, Freecell being among her favorites. With a renewed desire to learn more about internet options, in spite of less possibility for travel, Pearl discovered that she can connect to a world beyond Kittay House from the comfort of her studio.

Pearl boasts that she learned to Skype in ten minutes. The Skype software application allows her to stay in touch with her children, grandchildren, and nephews by voice calling, instant-messaging and video conferencing, which is something she marvels at.

“I go on Skype everyday to visit with my family. I think it’s an amazing thing that I can see them and they can see me while talking, though I always have to make sure I’m not in my nightgown before I turn the computer on“, says Pearl with a chuckle in her voice.

On a recent learning adventure, Pearl was introduced to Google Earth. One of the places she visits virtually is her childhood hometown of Munkatch, Czechoslovakia, the very place from which she and her family were forced to leave by Nazi soldiers. Google Earth enables her to make a virtual trip. “It’s still emotional for me when ever I see the town that I loved and that I escaped from in my youth. I can still recognize it.”

Currently, Pearl is using her tech-prowess to contact a physician in Israel. Through the miracle of search engines, Pearl is determined to track the doctor down so she can thank him for saving her life.

Now that’s a beautiful internet connection!