Letter from the Executive Director
“Too many people, when they get old, think that they have to live by the calendar.” —John Glenn (1921–2016)
At age 77, John Glenn became the oldest person to board a space shuttle and go into space. He was led by the notion that his chronological age was simply a measurement on a calendar and should not be viewed by its limitations. John Glenn understood that his age did not restrict his activities; it actually prepared him for them. This is a message that we share with all of the older adults living in the housing communities served by Operation Pathways. Operation Pathways had another great year providing and
coordinating programs and services for residents living in affordable housing communities aimed at increasing quality of life. While Operation Pathways serves all individuals and families across our portfolio of properties, we focus our attention on our older adult residents in this report, with special attention to seniors and technology. In Falls Church, VA residents take advantage of workshops to better understand how to use smart phones and tablets. Many of our older residents are realizing that understanding these technologies increases their opportunities to communicate with their children and grandchildren. We were astounded by the response to offering these workshops. We found that many of our residents actually owned smart phones that they seldom (and in a few cases never) used. Most knew how to make a phone call, but didn’t utilize any of its other functions. In Waterbury, Connecticut, our partner service providers from Beacon Communities offer our residents Connected Living. This senior-friendly computer program allows our residents to stay connected to one another as well as to the office staff. Residents stay engaged in community events and programs by logging into their Connected Living account. Connected Living also provides residents with easy access to the internet and social media with its senior-friendly interface. In Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD, older adults are using Amazon Echo devices provided through a grant by the AARP Foundation. Residents use their Amazon Echo devices to engage with one another, the office staff, and the internet. This technology can be used as a tool to decrease social isolation among older adults by keeping them engaged with the outside world. Residents are also given the option to use “smart sockets” with their Amazon Echo devices to turn lamps on and off just by asking Alexa to do it for them. No more falls between the bed and the light switch in the middle of the night! As John Glenn taught us, technological advances are not only to be utilized by the young. The seniors in our housing communities are turning to assistive-technology to increase their quality of life, and Operation Pathways is proud to help them make these connections. We thank all of our supporters and partners that help make this possible. Kenneth D. White Executive Director, Operation Pathways, Inc.
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