Helping Seniors Connect with the New GENIE Kiosk

The GENIE software is an easy-to-use messaging platform designed for seniors in long-term care to use independently, to remain connected with their loved ones.

The software consists of three components, a GENIE kiosk (pictured), and Ambient Access website and mobile app. The GENIE kiosk remains in the long-term care unit for residents' use, while family members and friends can message them and manage their account through the Ambient Access online services. 

The facilitator at the long-term care unit will set up residents, assigning each of them a large, colourful key to use when accessing the machine. This will then display their profile, showing them any messages they have received, including voice messages and recordings, videos, texts, and pictures, which they can then reply to by picking up the receiver and recording their response. The response is then sent to the loved one to view at their convenience. 

While the communication isn't real-time, it allows residents to keep in touch with loved ones and long distance family members and friends on their own time and at their own pace. A resident can even initiate a voice message and revisit saved messages. 

Saved messages, including all attachments, are stored in albums, which can be used to create online memory books to allow residents to revisit lived experiences and help them to retain precious memories.

In the interests of safety, one trusted family facilitator will be assigned to manage each account, who will then be responsible for adding each additional user. The family facilitator will be able to view all messages received to see who is talking to the resident and ensure that content is appropriate. Resident profiles can also be easily removed, along with all data, should a resident move or pass away. 

The kiosk also features a rotating home screen, where the onsite kiosk manager can add things such as calendars, events, happy birthday messages, and more, for residents to view when accessing the machine. 

Judy Brown and Diane Chabot (pictured above) were present at the unveiling, along with members of the residents/family council, to view an online demonstration of the software. 

The 15 current unit residents and their family members are all planning to use the kiosk for future communications.

Saddle Hills County is proud to be able to support local residents in long-term care through the implementation of this software, and is grateful for the hard work of carers, volunteers, and staff, who make things like this possible. We are excited to see what the future holds for the residents and care team and thank them for including us in this special event.