FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

WEST ROXBURY— Ethos’ AgeWell West Roxbury (AWWR) initiative will host the launch party for their latest program for seniors called Connected Living, a web-based program made expressly for seniors on Friday, February 5, 2010. The event will take place at the West Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library, 1960 Centre Street from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. This Party marks the first piloting of this program in a community setting as opposed to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. Governor Deval Patrick, Executive Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Ann Hartstein, Mayor Thomas Menino and local area elected officials are among the list of confirmed attendees for the Launch.

Created by a local start-up in Quincy called MyWay Village, Connected Living offers personal one-to-one training, companionship, elder-friendly technical support and an easy-to-use web-based program. Members are taught how to communicate with family, friends in their community, professional and family caregivers through the Connected Living secure web-based portal. Most seniors want to remain living at home so they can remain close to friends, family and church. Since West Roxbury has the highest number of elders living in single-family homes than any other neighborhood in Boston, the opportunity to become isolated and less social is much greater. Many are also not aware of the resources available to them or how to access the services they need. Connected Living is a solution that empowers seniors to access the goods, services and social connections they need to enhance their quality of live and ability to stay in their home longer.

Ethos Executive Director, Dale Mitchell is excited about the launch of Connected Living in West Roxbury. “Ethos is always looking at new and innovative ways of keeping seniors at home,” states Mitchell. “This new healthy aging program provides a calm and approachable learning environment that fosters community and communication in a new setting for elders. It is an effective way for seniors to connect with their communities.”
 
“We are a company driven by social impact, and committed to the idea that a “connected life” transforms the experience of aging,” added MyWay Village CEO and Co-founder Sarah Hoit. Our experience over the last 3 years shows that seniors can and will connect and by doing so deeply enrich the lives of everyone who has the opportunity to listen to their amazing voices, wisdom and experience.”

Connected Living will help families and loved ones in West Roxbury connect with each other, share experiences and view photos online. It will also help users remember important appointments and document special moments in their lives. With Connected Living, seniors will meet with a personal Ambassador who provide them individualized help, attend discussion groups monthly, learn new ways to connect with family and friends, and learn about the internet and the computer. Users do not need to own a computer to participate in the program.

Ethos’ AgeWell West Roxbury initiative is implementing many healthy aging programs in addition to the Connected Living program to support seniors living in West Roxbury. Matter of Balance, a falls prevention (8-week) program, My Life, My Health also known as the Chronic Disease Self Management (6-week) program, Healthy Eating for Successful Living for Older Adults (6-week) program, Indoor and Outdoor Walking Groups are just a few of its other offerings. AWWR is also planning to initiate a fitness challenge for older adults this March.

To participate or learn more about Connected Living and other AgeWell West Roxbury programs, contact Ethos’ AgeWell Coordinator, Cathy Slade at 617-477-6616 or email cslade@ethocare.org.

 ABOUT AGEWELL WEST ROXBURY

AgeWell West Roxbury is a pilot initiative of Ethos, the state-designated Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) for southwest Boston. The program helps West Roxbury seniors “age-in-place” and offers vital support to their caregivers. It does this in two ways. First, it connects them and their caregivers with the services, programs and activities they need so they can stay active and healthy at home, out of costly nursing homes. Second, it mobilizes community resources to address unmet local needs and to promote a more “elder-friendly” environment.

 ABOUT ETHOS

Ethos is a Boston-based, not-for-profit organization assisting over 2,000 elderly and disabled persons. Its mission is to promote personal well-being, dignity and independence through high quality, affordable and culturally competent home and community-based care. Founded in 1973, Ethos specializes in care management, crisis intervention and nutrition services. It operates an annual budget of $14 million, has a staff of more than 100 and utilizes 250 community volunteers. Programs include Home Care, Protective Services, Meals on Wheels, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Companionship, Caregiver Support and a variety of outreach/community capacity building projects, including its award-winning AgeWell West Roxbury initiative. All activities are tailored to suit needs based on language, culture, sexual orientation or physical or mental ability. Ethos is the proud founding sponsor of the LGBT Aging Project. For more information, visit www.ethocare.org.

 ABOUT MYWAY VILLAGE

Founded in 2007, MyWay Village is transforming the experience of aging and connecting families across generations by combining simplified technology with high-touch personal support. The company is based in Quincy, Massachusetts. More information can be found at www.mywayvillage.com or by calling the number 617-328-1600. For more info, visit www.connectedliving.com

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Living a “Connected Life” delivers a unique blend of cognitive, emotional and social stimulation that empowers seniors to learn new skills, maintain existing skills and build larger social networks. The My Games application of Connected Living offers “Fit Brains”, a suite of brain exercise activities. This comprehensive and personalized experience brings “brain healthy” socialization and reminiscing, both online and in person, to every member.

Connected Living is a multi-disciplinary program that has achieved high rates of Internet adoption by seniors everywhere. For more information go to: www.connectedliving.com.

Social networking for seniors is something all together different. Products like Connected Living enables seniors, who are notoriously analogue, to communicate in new ways.  Think about that for a second.  Imagine the joy your grandfather or mom would feel if they were introduced to a communication tool that helped give them a louder, more creative and more up-to-date voice in a society that is notorious for silencing seniors.  Better late then never!  We love MyWay Village’s mission statement:

To enhance the lives of seniors by empowering them to connect with family, friends and community.

Read post here: Brendondavid.com on Connected Living…

This fall, the center will solicit proposals for its Medication Optimization Technologies grants. The goal is to promote technologies that can help older adults take the right medications at the right time.

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