SeniorLink
Expanding our Network
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Field of Work
education
Year project started (or projected start date) (yyyy)
2007
If Field of Work is “other” please define in 1-2 words below
SENIOR CITIZEN STIMULATION
YouTube Upload
Project URL (or link to any media coverage)
http://childrensculturalcenter.org/seniorlink
What is the primary problem your venture is trying to address and how are you addressing it (or planning to address it)?
We have a large inventory of computers that we plan to donate to various senior citizen communities throughout Bucks County and northern New Jersey. However we need to purchase small parts for each workstation before doing so. We have planned fundraisers to cover the cost of transportation for the computers, and we were hoping that this contest would grant us some money that we could use at STAPLES to complete the 40 computer stations.
Name Your Project
Describe Your Idea
Project Description
SeniorLink collects computers, donates them to senior centers, and teaches/stimulates residents with a tool that connects them with the community at large.
Unique and different
In Bucks County, I have yet to encounter a similar project. We believe that getting residents connected with the computer will keep the residents’ minds active and alert. Often residents’ minds deteriorate due to lack of interaction. They lose the desire to do anything else in life. Reaching out and teaching them new things, such as using the computer, will jump-start the passion within, as well as instill in them a sense of confidence and accomplishment which they may have forgotten. We teach the residents how to play games, surf the web for news, videos, and even email! This gives them an easier, more convenient and flexible way of keeping in touch. They are able to type up letters and holiday cards for families. Online tutorials are full of computer-based jargon difficult to understand, and so SeniorLink is more hands on. We have such tremendous success, that senior citizen communites are contacting us, and we plan to expand into New Jersey.
Project plan
We plan to refurbish our 40-computer inventory for donation. This involves installing software (XP, Microsoft Office, Games, etc.) on all the computers and purchasing cables and other accessories for each workstation (from a place like Staples). Meanwhile, we must contact the many senior citizen communities that are interested in establishing computer workplaces. Lastly, we need to rent a U-Haul truck to transport all of the computers out to the various senior homes. The two major costs we face are from Staples and for transportation, so we would use the money from Staples to invest in a few laptops and printers. Residents like to have tangible evidence of their work, and only printers have the capability of producing such. Laptops would help SeniorLink serve the residents that cannot easily access a desktop computer.
Partnerships
SeniorLink really has been able to expand after we received two large donations, which we are incredibly thankful for. We were able to locate these donors through our excellent partnership with the Children’s’ Cultural Center in Doylestown, PA. Whenever they receive donations, they gladly forward the computer related ones to us. This is due to our great bond with our mentor, Jackie Liney. Our advertising at local fairs also help get our message across to those that have contacts in the community. Our partnerships with the senior citizen homes have strengthened as the residents have begun to discuss SeniorLink and computer lessons through out their community. We have two main supports, Attleboro and Twining Village, that have requested us to return in the fall. We have been able to construct such a valuable network through constant communication and a willingness to go out of our way to ensure that SeniorLink can serve the community.
Impact
We understand our impact when we witness the joyous he giggles and “Ooh Ahhs” the residents share when we expose them to new concepts on the computer.
Effectiveness
We do not know the exact number of people that SeniorLink has touched because of the nature of our work. We focus our teaching at two homes, but we know that residents are using the computers we donated at the many other homes.
How do you engage and impact the community?
We engage the community by soliciting their support through donations and contributions. The Activity Coordinators at the various senior homes we work with really have expressed their gratitude for our program. Many residents do not care for the arts and crafts or BINGO games that are scheduled, and SeniorLink gives them another opportunity to engage their minds. Since there is no quantitative way to measure the experience the residents have, we record success by how often the homes request us to come back. As mentioned above, Attleboro and Twining Village both have requested us to return, and we have them both on a biweekly schedule. SeniorLink does impact more communities with all of our donations, but due to our limited volunteer staff, we are unable to teach at all of our locations.
How do you measure this impact?
As mentioned above, since there is no quantitative way to measure the experience the residents have, we record success by how often the homes request us to come back. Attleboro and Twining Village both have requested us to return, and we have them both on a biweekly schedule. SeniorLink does impact more communities with all of our donations, but due to our limited volunteer staff, we are unable to teach at all of our locations.
Obstacles
Again, we require money to complete the workstations and to transport them to the interested senior homes. We have planned fundraisers for the near future, but if we do not raise enough money, we are at a temporary standstill until our next event. The second issue we face is with volunteer support. Recently we made a decision to expand our computer presence to many homes through out Bucks County, but we had to make it clear that we would not be available to teach. Hopefully if we recruit new members, we can reach the other senior homes with our more holistic approach to help.
Issue Selector
(or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)
We already have several fundraisers planned for the near future because we are determined to get our large computer inventory to the community. We host donation drives and fundraisers, such as movie nights and computer-part garage sales.
Aside from financial sustainability, how do you plan to grow and sustain your project?
Since SeniorLink'’s volunteers attend different high schools, we have a large pool of high school students that we can recruit from. We plan to place posters around these schools in the fall so that when older members graduate, the younger ones can take over. Additionally, Jackie Liney, our mentor, has access to a large portion of the volunteering community in Bucks County and frequently transfers interested people to SeniorLink. Word-of-mouth is also an effective tool in any venture, and we hope our successes in Attleboro and Twining will help SeniorLink spread, as it already has done.
Finance details
We already have several fundraisers planned for the near future because we are determined to get our large computer inventory to the community. Since SeniorLink’s volunteers attend different high schools, we have a large pool of high school students that we can recruit from. We plan to place posters around these schools in the fall so that when older members graduate, the younger ones can take over. Other than volunteers, the project is fairly self-sustaining. Once the computers are distributed, the residents can use them when the like. So although SeniorLink is not active 24/7, we continually impact residents. If known, provide information on your finances and organization: • Money raised and/or in-kind donations (donated space and/or materials) 1. We can update this information after we host the imminent fundraisers. • Number of people on your team and their roles 1. Vinay Trivedi (president) 2. Evan Silverstein (Vice President) All of our other volunteers come to us when they have time in their schedule. Children’s Cultural Center refers many students and adults to us that volunteer their time at whichever senior home is convenient for them. We cannot keep a track of all of them, so we have no specific numbers. • Number of partners • Children’s Cultural Center (Jackie Liney) • Attleboro • Twining Village
Creative funding
With the residents, we created and printed many holiday cards and stationary to sell at their monthly bazaar. We use this money to reinvest in the computer workstations. We have advertised throughout the community and have offered a “trade” system to a few donors, in which we would receive one computer part in exchange for another. (In effect, a barter system).
Other non finance needs
A large non financial issue concerns volunteer support. Recently we made a decision to expand our computer presence to many homes through out Bucks County, but we had to make it clear that we would not be available to teach. Hopefully if we recruit new members, we can reach the other senior homes with our more holistic approach to help.
Motivation
SeniorLink seeks to familiarize nursing home residents with the computer. My grandfather passed away at Langhorne Gardens unexpectedly while we were on vacation. It hurt me to discover that he passed away alone, without love by his side. I made it my commitment to make sure that I would try to make sure that these residents never felt alone and without anything to do.
Awards
Personal: Congressional Gold Medal (pending) for the service I put into the community
Broader context
Many of the youth led movements focus on the environment, sports, and many of the catagories listed above. SeniorLink benefits the often-overlooked residents by integrating them within society. It is important, especially in this quickly evolving time, for the youth to be connected with the elderly. In exchange for the computer knowledge, I have learned a lot about the climate of America, and many other countries, fifty or so years ago.
Ongoing
As I enter into senior year, I am taking an active role in expanding SeniorLink into New Jersey. I hope that as I grow older, SeniorLink can expand into more counties and more states. Eventually, I hope a similar initiative to introduce computers and technology to the older population emerges in all senior homes. Technology is the fastest growing industry and in order to ensure that seniors do not feel disconnected, ventures like SeniorLink must burgeon.
What is your age?
Please select one
How did you hear about this competition?
 | Romina Laouri said: Hi Vinay, I think if you thought a bit more about your effectiveness and impact it could help your application a lot. Maybe you can ... about this idea. - 423 days ago read more > |
| Dana Frasz said: Hello Vinay, I noticed in your project plan that you mention that you need to rent a U-Haul truck to transport all of the computers. ... about this idea. - 443 days ago read more > |