For Immediate Release
1/12/2020
Community Foundation Contact: The Community at Sunset Wood Contact:
Kayla Ellis, Public Relations Manager Dominick M. Manfredo, Executive Director/CEO
kellis@foundationhoc.org dmanfredo@sunsetwood.org
315-542-4796 315-733-1389
Local Senior Living Community Implementing Google Technology to Help Tenants Age in Place and Avoid Social Isolation
UTICA, NY – The Community at Sunset Wood and The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties have recently partnered to make an impact in the community to provide Google devices to seniors that will help them to “age in place” and enjoy social programs during a time when in-person and face-to-face gatherings are limited.
The $4,000 investment from the Faxton Street Home Fund of The Community Foundation will assist with the purchase of Google Nest Hub Max Smart Displays. Especially during COVID-19 lockdowns, senior citizens feel more isolated than ever now that family and friends are unable to visit. By providing these devices, tenants will be able to video chat with loved ones, set reminders for medication administration and appointments, or even listen to their favorite music to help ease the stress during this time of uncertainty.
“We are so grateful to The Community Foundation for supporting our vision for this state-of-the-art technology program,” said Dominick Manfredo, CEO of The Community at Sunset Wood. “This is the type of high-end technology that is being implemented in bigger markets like New York City and Los Angeles, so to start something like this in Upstate New York takes a lot of innovation and intuition which both of our organizations have. We look forward to bringing our tenants into a new era of senior living.”
“It’s projects like this one that are not only getting creative in response to changing needs that the pandemic has presented but are simultaneously moving our community forward in ways we never even thought of,” said Jan Squadrito, senior community investment manager at The Community Foundation. “We are proud to be a part of this project and excited for the tenants that will get to make use of this new technology.”
To learn more about this project, visit sunsetwood.org/google-smart-display-program.
The Community at Sunset Wood’s mission is to enable seniors to live independently in a secure community that enhances the quality of life. We do this by providing below market rate and market rate senior housing that is on average, much cheaper than our nearest competitor. In addition, we pride ourselves in promoting our “Aging-In-Place” model which encourages our tenants to utilize and/or bring in services that can keep them independent in their own home rather than moving to nursing care— in this case, smart home technology. For more information on our community please visit www.sunsetwood.org or call 315-733-1389.
Founded in 1952, The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties envisions a vibrant region with opportunity for all. In fulfillment of its “Engage. Invest. Lead” mission, The Community Foundation has transformed decades of donor generosity into $90 million invested in social impact initiatives, collaborative leadership and grantmaking. Find out more at foundationhoc.org or call 315-735-8212.
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