Hi-Tech with Heart

Northwood home support clients are harnessing the power of the internet to browse faraway places, listen to music and access information from around the world. Hi-Tech with Heart is a project started by Northwood that puts smart tablets in the hands of respite clients.

“We are always looking for ways to add value to the services we offer,” says Janet Simm, President and CEO of Northwood. “We know respite is a service that’s truly beneficial for the client and caregivers, but we wanted to explore how we could make it more meaningful, more stimulating and ultimately, more enjoyable for each client. The client is at the heart of everything that we do, so we strive to ensure care is personalized to each person’s interests and experience. Our focus as a not-for-profit is to invest in people and the communities we serve.”

The project was made possible through a generous grant from the TELUS Community Grant Program. Twenty new tablets were purchased and loaded with apps that allow home support staff and clients to relax and enjoy respite in new ways. Clients can access social media to connect with friends and loved ones, or perhaps reminisce by listening to their favorite music, or take a walk down memory lane looking at familiar places on Google Earth.

In partnership with local colleges, experienced Northwood home care staff will also use the tablets to mentor students from Continuing Care programs on ways to foster a more personalized approach. As these students move on to the workplace, the Hi-tech with Heart experience will leave a lasting impression with a big ripple effect, promoting the power of intergenerational connections for years to come, across Nova Scotia and beyond.