Tag Archives: NPR

Designing technology at age 90

Posted on by under Gerontechnology, Inspiration

This is an awesome National Public Radio story about a 90 year old woman who is using her wisdom and talents to develop technologies for aging adults!

Beskind says as she gets older and faces new problems in the world, she’s thankful she’s a designer. “It makes aging more tolerable, more enjoyable,” she says. “I enjoy the age I’m in. I think it’s one of the best chapters of my life.”

Barbara Beskind, 90, is a designer at IDEO who works with engineers on products that improve the quality of life for older people.

At 90, She’s Designing Tech For Aging Boomers

JANUARY 19, 2015 2:32 PM ET You can also listen to the NPR story on this article: 
In Silicon Valley’s youth-obsessed culture, 40-year-olds get plastic surgery to fit in. But IDEO, the firm that famously developed the first mouse for Apple, has a 90-year-old designer on staff.

Barbara Beskind says her age is an advantage.

“Everybody who ages is going to be their own problem-solver,” she says. And designers are problem-solvers. Beskind speaks while sitting on a couch at the open office space of IDEO in San Francisco. She commutes to the office once a week from a community for older adults where falling is a problem.

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Camp for Dementia

Posted on by under Socialization, Vacation

I came across this post on the NPR website. You can also listen to the 8 minute audio report here. It’s a story about Camp for Caring, a camp put on by the non-profit organization Family Caregiver Alliance. Their website states,

Camp for Caring is for care receivers and is one our most popular weekend retreats for adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other brain impairments. Campers spend the weekend (Friday-Sunday) in an attractive camp or retreat setting so that their caregivers can enjoy a much needed 48-hour respite from caregiving.

The success of this camp is attributed to Camp for Caring AAA’s—Activity, Affection and Attention. The activity program is highly structured with outdoor activities, arts and crafts, singing and dancing, low impact exercises, group games and hand massages.There is close supervision by paid professionals and volunteers who provide around-the-clock care, a 24-hour on-site nurse and night attendants.

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