More tech fun at Mountain Valley!

KELLOGG — For the second year in a row, Mountain Valley of Cascadia (formerly Kindred) has been approved for a long-term technology grant from the state of Idaho, and this year’s money is going toward something quite grand.

With last year’s funds, the facility purchased a SMART Table for the residents to use. This year, the grant was substantially larger and will go toward a myriad of fun new tech toys for the residents.

A Yamaha Disklavier Grand Piano, Beamz and QPADs (headphones), an iPad and an Xbox will be purchased — each of the new devices having potential for both entertainment value, as well as therapeutic relief.

Emilee Kulin, Cascadia’s activities director, wrote the grant and detailed out why each piece of technology has potential to be a tool for the facility to use, while bringing joy to the residents who don’t have many options when it comes to having a good time.

“The Beamz technology and Q-Pads are a new approach through technology to maintain and help restore functionality for residents who do not appear to respond to traditional approaches from therapy or restorative nursing staff,” Kulin said. “With the growing advancements in technology, iPads continue to be at the forefront for innovation and have many applications that will be beneficial for our residents, including those who are mobility or sensory challenged. The versatility of these devices will allow them to be brought directly to the resident instead of needing the resident to come to the device or activity, hence the additional request for the in-room mobile cart with a television. The Xbox will be for activities with hope to serve our growing younger populations.”

A seemingly odd purchase for a nursing home-type facility, the Xbox actually has some clever applications that make it fun for anyone to use — while not having to use a cumbersome controller, as is the case with other gaming systems.

“In a cycle of evaluation and improvement, we have discovered frustrations, from staff and residents, regarding the user-friendliness of our current Wii gaming system. The handheld remotes, in particular, are difficult for most all of our residents to manage, which in turn impacts their willingness to participate,” Kulin said. “The use of the Kinect system through the Xbox will eliminate this issue and instead focus on the movement of body, with no remote error messages possible of occurring.” The grand piano will allow residents to interact with music, from continuing a hobby to being a way for residents to learn how to play for themselves.

“Each item that we have requested serves a specific need or population, including independent residents who will be able to enjoy and explore music through our Yamaha Piano,” Kulin said. We will also provide monthly subscriptions to the Disklavier radio (which is similar to the Sirius Radio program used in vehicles) and will enhance the use of the Yamaha piano.”

The radio setup makes the grand piano a player piano and allows users to have fresh music at their disposal.

The money for the grant comes from fines and penalties that the facilities have to pay for any infractions from the annual survey that each facility undertakes. That money is put into a pot and then redistributed to the facilities for different things that will make the facility a better place. Mountain Valley Cascadia has scored perfect on their surveys for the better part of the last decade, but they are always looking to make their facility better than it is.

“The technology that we are requesting, specifically the iPads, music beams and mobile Xbox, will be used to reach individuals who do not or cannot leave their beds or rooms,” Kulin said. “This will help us bring the activities to them. Encouraging movement, interaction and improving their psychosocial well-being.”