By Cory L. Higgs
Anyone in quarantine or working from home will tell you it’s a tedious way to pass the day, but imagine having none of the modern connivances of today, and knowing that every outside contact could have potentially lethal consequences.
That’s the reality of many seniors in care facilities across the nation. The only connection many have is with overworked and overwhelmed caregivers, who are working around the clock to provide care in a ‘locked down’ environment.
While these care facilities have put up the proverbial iron curtain, Wood Brothers Racing has been working to bring contact to those on the other side.
Jon Wood, senior vice president of the racing organization, said that he learned about the visitation restrictions and how staff members were at a loss in finding engaging activities for residents while chatting with his mother, who works at a care facility in Stuart.
An avid fan of the show ‘Lockup,’ Wood said the show sparked his idea to place tablets in nursing facilities so the residents could video chat with family and friends outside, much like on the show he mentioned.
Wood said that he and Matt DiBenedetto created an online donation system to collect funds for the devices.
“It was originally intended to be maybe 200 donations for a total of $2,000 extra dollars, and in return, we’d send a signed thank-you note from Matt, and the Wood Brothers. (The) 200 turned to 500 really quick, 500 turned to 1,000, and it kept getting bigger and bigger. We’re now up to around $31,500 and right at 200 tablets,” he said.
Wood estimated that 10 tablets were needed for every 100 residents. The number of tablets varies between facilities, according to the number of residents at each.
“These are likely not people that are very skilled in the use of tablets/iPads, so it’s not like they can just turn them all loose and everyone go on their merry way,” Wood said. “The intent was to have some tablets on hand for family members without smart devices to be able to use on the property and then a good number that the residents use for Facetime/skype and any other activities that the staff decides they can do,” he added.
Some of the tablets will be for visitors to use outside of the facility; he said, adding that a test run was recently conducted by Teresa Blakard, who video chatted with her father – a resident of the Blue Ridge Facility.
“Every other member of society has some kind of ability and opportunity to engage and communicate with family. We have Facebook to turn to for our conspiracy theories, our daily gripes, complaints, reassurances,” Wood said. “We can call, we can visit in small numbers, we have cars, all these other outlets, and conveniences that still make us connected to one another.
“Seniors are the most vulnerable from health issues, and quite frankly, they’re the aptest to die from this. We can’t really comprehend what that must be like because we’re not in that situation,” said Wood.
He reported that devices soon would be available for delivery and installation.
Wood noted that tablets of every make and model soon will be delivered, and then will be installed.
The project, he said, has been a bit overwhelming. However, it has been a considerable success in his eyes.
While face to face would be ideal, Wood hopes the tablet can help ease the mind and entertain the residents in these uncertain times.
Those interested in tablet visitation should contact the facility in which your loved one lives for more information.
To donate to the Wood Brother Racing Fundraiser, visit https://woodbrothersracing.bigcartel.com/product/tablets-for-seniors.
