Meaningful Engagement for Happier, Healthier Seniors

Everyone deserves to continue living a full life as they age—one with joy, purpose, and meaningful connections. iN2L brings people together, connecting seniors with what interests and fulfills them and enabling them to share conversations, experiences, learning, and fun with each other, their caregivers, and family members.

Q&A with Liz Cole-Salcido - Social Services Program Director:

The iN2L Experience

Artesia Christian Home Skilled Nursing is one of sixty skilled nursing facilities participating in the iNSPIRE Project. Recently, Liz Cole-Salcido, Social Services Program Director, sat down to discuss how iN2L has positively impacted residents and staff.

Q: How has utilizing the iN2L systems impacted your residents? Do you have a specific story of a resident using the iN2L systems? 

A: We have a resident who loves her tablet and when she gets up to use the restroom, she tells everyone that the tablet is hers and not to touch it. She is worried a bout the battery dying and asks staff to charge it for her. She gets involved in group activities, but still loves to use her tablet.

Q: What do residents and staff like most about the 23" Group Engagement system?

A: Residents love the gameshows and movies, and the Bose speaker is awesome! The staff liked using it for hallway activities during COVID and it helped so much while everyone was in their rooms. We even used our community channel TV system to broadcast iN2L trivia content.

Q: What do residents and staff like most about the tablets?

A: Residents like to be in the dining area eating with their own tablet watching travel videos and slideshows. It is also nice for staff to be able to provide tablets to family members during visits, especially visits with residents living with dementia. 

Q: Would you recommend iN2L to other providers and communities like yours?

A: Yes! A lot of facilities could benefit from iN2L. Many young activity staff are inherently good with new technology and quickly learn how to use iN2L.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROJECT?

The Integrate fuN, Sustainable, Programming that is Innovative, Rewarding and Enriches (iNSPIRE) project provides skilled nursing facilities with the iN2L engagement technology, which offers thousands of computer-based experiences aimed at improving quality of life, reducing psychotropic drug use, providing stress relief, and much more. Congratulations to the 60 skilled nursing facilities selected to be part of the iNSPIRE Project! 

HOW LONG IS THE PROJECT?

Beginning in April 2020, the three-year project supports a study including 30 residents at 60 skilled nursing facilities for a total of 1,800 study participants and includes an evaluation to determine changes over time. 

IS THERE A COST TO PARTICIPATE? 

No, the California Department of Public Health awarded a grant of $2.6 million to the LeadingAge California Foundation to implement the engaging, computer-based program known as “It’s Never Too Late” (iN2L) in skilled nursing facilities. Join LeadingAge California by participating in the iNSPIRE project to deliver engaging and individualized recreational and leisure activities (RLAs) using iN2L engagement technology. The project is funded by a civil monetary penalty (CMP) grant and is the first of its kind in California.

WHICH OF OUR RESIDENTS DOES THE PROJECT SUPPORT?

The iNSPIRE project targets up to 1,800 residents with cognitive decline (dementia), social isolation, or symptoms of depression and evaluates the impact that using iN2L’s interactive content on touch screen systems has on:

• Improving resident quality of life (QOL)
• Reducing the use of antipsychotics

The project includes evaluation on the quality of care, and quality of life, through two measurable objectives:

• Reduce antipsychotic use by twenty percent (20%)
• Increase participation in person centered activities by twenty percent (20%)