GENIE Is Connecting Older Adults With Loved Ones, Near And Far
Imagine an easy to use communications tool that helps connect seniors with loved ones. That is the goal of the GENIE project.
“GENIE is a communications portal that allows older adults, specifically those who may struggle with using modern-day technology, to connect and socialize with family members,” said Justine Henry, manager of research services with the Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA).
The GENIE unit includes a television screen and large buttons, along with a telephone receiver.
“When residents are interacting with something that their family members have sent them, and they want to reply and send a message, they can pick up the phone receiver and talk into the phone,” said Henry, noting that talking into a telephone receiver is something that is both nostalgic and familiar for residents.
Family members, the remote users, can download the GENIE app on their smart device or access it through a web page.
“They can upload any type of content that they like. It could be a music video, photos or voice messages. Once they send it, it immediately goes to the GENIE unit, which is housed at York Care Centre,” she said.
The resident users, who live at York Care Centre in Fredericton, have a Bluetooth beacon, either attached to their person, wheelchair or walker.
“When they come up and interact with GENIE, it recognizes the Bluetooth beacon and will immediately load their profile,” said Henry.
Resident users can view any messages, but can only reply using voice.
“We wanted to keep it as simple as possible,” she said. “When they reply, it is immediately sent back to their loved one and received on their smart device.”
GENIE also has an ambient mode, allowing the machine to be used by residents at York Care Centre who are not fitted with Bluetooth beacons. This enables everyone to use GENIE to view photos, activity calendars, menus or any other information about what is happening at the Centre.
Currently, there is one GENIE unit housed on Tower 3 of York Care Centre, with two resident users who communicate with two family users.
“They love it. One of the residents just lights up every time she goes to GENIE,” she said.
Henry notes that having options to help older adults keep connected to loved ones is more important than ever.
“This pandemic is unprecedented and I think that, as terrifying as it is, it’s made us all take a step back and focus on what’s important,” she said. “Just the notion of family connections is something that is vital for everyone for their mental health and well-being.”
The GENIE team includes members from CIRA, including Henry, research assistant Airica MacDougall, and vice-president of care and research services Lori MacDonald; Ambient Activity Technologies managing director Marc Kanik and project manager Hristo Todorov; and, from Stevorama, president Steve Charlton and senior software developer John Charlton. The project received Spark program funding from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation, with matching funds from the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation.
“We completed our study and we ended up with a great prototype,” said Henry. “Moving forward, Ambient Activity Technologies has recruited two other homes in Ontario and one in Alberta to trial GENIE, to continue improving the product.”
Once that is done, their aim is to conduct a more in-depth study.
“Our overall goal is to improve the quality of life of people who may be feeling a bit socially isolated or depressed, and to also improve family connectiveness,” she said. “I feel like GENIE could be used in other settings as well. Maybe in a hospital or other special care homes, or some iteration could be used for seniors living at home in the community.”
This story is sponsored by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF)