February 2022 Community Service

2 hours

During the Mardi Gras break, I was inspired by people I met in my community who were concerned with the spread of COVID-19 in assisted living communities after the parade season was over. There was an emphasis on concern that needed to be further acknowledged. Though the residents themselves most likely did not attend parades themselves, they could still be pre-disposed by family members or faculty who had engaged in the festivities. This talk led to the idea of facilitating virtual experiences for residents at an assisted living community. In order to determine the feasibility of this idea here in New Orleans, I contacted someone I had volunteered with previously in Massachusetts. I communicated with administration regarding the potential of expanding the community theater to install a device with FaceTime capabilities that is easy to use for residents. By creating a self-report questionnaire that asked residents to rate an array of hobbies to determine technological skill levels across the board, we found that most of the residents were in favor of the idea of virtually interacting with family members, especially if virtual board games were involved. We were also able to see that most of the residents were willing to learn how to use a technological device, if they did not already know how to use it, for stimulation and entertainment. Some residents even reported that they would like to play a game like “Just Dance.” As a pharmacology student, I was able to share my scientific knowledge on the health benefits of incorporating virtual entertainment (under supervision) in certain assisted living communities. This could lead to the reduction of stress, which can then lead to improved immune response, decreased muscle tension and spasticity, and regulation of mood.  Furthermore, it could provide a sense of happiness and peace for some who experience anxiety living there, especially new residents. In particular, one of my favorite residents, who served in the Korean War for the United States Army, loves to play golf. Unfortunately, the community is not on a golf course nor does it have one on the premises, so he reported that he would participate in a game of virtual golf and suggested we purchase a Wii for the community room. Though we all laughed, it was actually a great idea. I hope to bring this idea to other assisted living communities here in New Orleans to bring happiness to our elderly residents. Something I have noticed along the way is that many of the elderly residents I have encountered act like teenagers in the sense of wanting to be included and engage in interactive experiences. It seems that as we get into a ripe, old age, we may just want to get up, let loose, and have fun. Why not share our technological advancements with the elderly if it improves their health and maybe even cognitive functioning? That’s what I would hope our future generation does for us!