RiverWoods receives grant to purchase iPad for Memory Care Residents

RiverWoods Senior Living Community recently received a grant to purchase an iPad tablet to use in their Memory Care Residence. River Valley Senior Providers Group awarded RiverWoods a $400 Community Impact Grant to purchase the iPad for musical therapy purposes.

Nicolle Steiner, Director of Activities at RiverWoods, said, “Music has long been recognized as an alternative route for communicating with residents who have dementia. Music stimulates all of the brain, improving overall function of the body and mind. Music programs are often seen as a therapeutic mechanism that results in improvement in mood, awareness and quality of life for people with dementia.”

The iPad is also used to offer an “Individualized Music Program” to the residents in Memory Care. Steiner said, “While RiverWoods provides many group activities, individualized programming is also very important and often the best option for some residents with dementia. Our goal is to meet the needs of all residents in a method best suited to each resident’s individual preference.”

In addition to music therapy, the iPad provides other therapeutic opportunities using apps. Many instruments are available as apps and can be accessed with just a finger tap. Familiar music can be accessed to meet individual choice through music apps. Spiritual apps are also available, as well as art and other creative programs.