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September 1998
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September 1998
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By Susan Garber
jmg@erols.com
Susan Garber coordinates the MDTAP Western Maryland Regional Demonstration and Training Program.Not content to sit and wait for visitors to come to the Senior's Assistive Technology Demonstration Center in Hagerstown, active project volunteers are polishing their "act" and preparing to take their AT message to the people!
After manning the assistive technology display at the Hagerstown Senior Fair with Millie Poper and Charlie Miller, Estella Summersill and Frances Bostick, two of the founding volunteers of the Senior Demo Center, were invited to present at the Tri-State Assistive Technology Fair in Frederick in May. Since that time they have been determined to reach more people with information about the many gizmos and gadgets that enable seniors to retain their independence and interests when the aging process tosses some challenges their way.
One strategy the volunteers and their HHA senior services leader, Charlotte Loveless, have devised to increase the size of their audiences is to begin doing presentations at the nutrition sites throughout the area. Starting with the nutrition programs at Walnut and Potomac Towers in Hagerstown, the volunteers will feature one type of technology at each presentation, such as kitchen aids, grooming aids, etc. Attendees will then be encouraged to visit the full collection of aids at the Seniorâs Demo Center. Can a cable TV spot be far behind????
Senior citizens typically do not consider themselves "disabled" and frequently shun assistive devices. Regrettably, this often results in the discontinuation of activities they have enjoyed throughout their lives. One example Francis and Estella give pertains to a love for sewing. Too often seniors just accept failing vision and arthritic pain as part of "getting old." They may be unaware of lighted magnifiers or self-threading needles to get past the vision problems, or chair mounted embroidery hoops to avoid the painful grasping of needlework. Even adapted scissors can make the job easier!
The Senior's AT Demonstration Center is housed in the first floor lounge of the Potomac Towers Building at 11 W. Baltimore Street in downtown Hagerstown. The use of Housing Authority space is an example of the type of community partnerships which have been facilitated by Susan Garber, Western Maryland TAP project leader. The Center is open on Wednesdays from 1 -3 p.m. and on Sundays from 2-4 p.m. and by appointment. The Sunday time was designed to correspond with the time family members may be returning their loved ones to the Housing Authority site after a weekend visit.
The Senior AT Demo Center volunteers will arrange to open the center for visits by individuals or groups, such as nursing centers, church groups, caregiver support groups, etc. To schedule such a visit, or to invite the volunteers to present at your site, call 301-797-8954.
The volunteers can demonstrate devices as well as help visitors locate the products in which they are interested. The volunteers have recently begun training on the use of HyperAbleData, a computerized device-locating database of over 20,000 assistive products. These volunteers are "learning new tricks" every day!
[FYI: Can you guess which assistive technology seniors seem most willing to embrace???? Based on the interest shown in Hagerstown, we'd have to say large print playing cards and card holders!]
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