A smart move for Georgia senior living: Legacy Reserve at Old Town embraces Alexa
Smarter apartments for smart residents
Local retirement community, Legacy Reserve at Old Town is bringing senior living into the future by installing Amazon’s smart device Alexa into all its residents’ apartments, and the residents are thrilled about it.
Legacy Reserve’s first resident and intrepid ambassador, Jean McKee, invited the Ledger into her home to show us the new technology in action. McKee has been there from the beginning and likes the added security and connections it fosters.
In addition to its practical features, McKee loves that it will play her favorite Elvis playlist on the I Heart Radio anytime she asks; a major perk of the entire endeavor, according to McKee. It can also connect her with the maintenance department to report problems, schedule a ride to the grocery store, offer games to play, and more features are being added all the time.
Blending Comfort with Innovation
Legacy Reserve at Old Town is known for its high-quality lifestyle for seniors. And now, that commitment goes a step further by embracing smart home technology. Executive Director, Susan Stephens is committed to maximizing the residents’ quality of life, and now this added education can take them to a whole new level.
There was a weekly, “Technology Tuesday” class that helped them learn the ropes initially, but it doesn’t have a lot of students these days. Stephens cites the drop in attendance to the 92% of residents who already use it proficiently and no longer need the tutorials.
Alexa: A new friend for every resident
The decision to install Alexa devices in each room came from the desire of the parent company, Atlas Senior Living, to enhance the daily lives of residents. Stephens, explains, “We wanted to give our seniors an easy way to offer socialization, provide information, and have a say in their own experience.”
Residents can now use voice commands to adjust room temperature, turn lights on and off, set reminders for medications or activities, and even call for assistance if needed. It’s like having a personal assistant at their beck and call.
One of the most significant benefits of the Alexa installation has been the improved connection it offers to residents who may suffer loneliness or isolation. Loved ones can now easily check in or leave messages and some residents can even use it to Facetime when they want.
Bridging the Technology Gap
The staff at Legacy Reserve at Old Town have found that Alexa’s voice-activated interface is intuitive and easy for residents to learn.
Research reveals that 67% of seniors (65 and older) use the internet, but 73% of seniors aged 65 and older say they need help using new devices.
The residents at Legacy Reserve are ahead of the curve in this regard and are constantly learning new ways to utilize the Alexas in their rooms. While we were there, we asked Alexa to find a recipe for banana bread, unlocking a new feature McKee herself hadn’t used yet.
Looking to the Future
The Alexa integration at Legacy Reserve at Old Town is the first retirement community in Georgia to implement this technology on such a scale. They’re setting a new standard for what seniors can expect retirement to be.
It’s no longer enough to just live out your retirement years… with all the innovations happening, seniors can thrive into their golden years.
