By Jason Davis
July 15, 2019
Baptist Village Communities (BVC) is shaping the future of aging services. It is a contributing factor to BVC’s six decades of providing excellent services.
The Bill and Susan Pierce Shaping the Future of Aging Services Fund gives Baptist Village Communities a considerable asset. This fund allows BVC to continue to purchase technology that enhances the lives of the residents BVC serves.
The fund is named for Bill and Susan Pierce. Bill has served as BVC president for more than 25 years. His visionary mindset and love for aging services made him and his wife, Susan, natural choices in naming the fund.
“Technology innovation is a powerful way to shape the future of aging services,” Pierce said. “There are many new life enhancing possibilities available. We are very thankful for friends of BVC who help fund technology innovation.”
Every day in the United States, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 years old. As the baby boomer population grows, so do technological advances and the need for necessary upgrades.
The Bill and Susan Pierce Shaping the Future of Aging Services Fund helps keep BVC front and center in the modern world. Baptist Village residents are being served in a significant way.
One of the most evident campus additions is the “It’s Never 2 Late” (iN2L) system. Found on multiple BVC campuses, iN2L systems help residents realize the full benefits of today’s technology. Their system is built on a picture-based, touchscreen interface with software programs emphasizing areas of wellness, including spiritual, physical, social, intellectual and emotional.
The iN2L system includes a 70-inch portable monitor that is easily transported and shared between neighborhoods on campus. The systems are loaded with a wide range of programs and features to pique nearly anyone’s interest.
“Residents can be as interactive as they want to be,” said Shelby Sandusky, life enrichment director at Baptist Village of Broken Arrow. “Some like to touch the screen, while others want to let the Friends Team operate it for them. A few residents want to travel to places or reminisce about places they have traveled or lived. A few residents enjoy singing karaoke. Still others like playing games such as Family Feud. There are so many options available through the iN2L that most every resident or group of residents can find something that excites them.”
Another exciting technology recently introduced can be found in Baptist Village of Owasso. Memory support residents in the Thompson Family Neighborhood are enjoying the unique features of the Abbott Snoezelen® Room. This amazing room provides a multi-sensory environment and offers a relaxed atmosphere with pleasant surroundings, calming sounds, soothing aromas and more. It also serves to relieve agitation and stress.
Paul and Betty Abbott made the Snozelen® room a reality. The Abbotts are longtime supporters of Baptist Village Communities. Paul also is a longtime member and past chair of the BVC Board of Directors. BVC is exceedingly grateful for their support. In addition, BVC is looking to provide more Snoezelen® rooms at other campuses.
Today’s consumers enjoy and expect countless more advancements than their parents and grandparents. BVC knows it must make exciting technologies like iN2L and Snoezelen® available—technologies that enhance lives and engage residents. BVC invite others to participate in this technology journey.
Those interested in supporting the Bill and Susan Pierce Shaping the Future of Aging Services Fund may contact Lindsi Skinner at 405/942-3000 Ext. 4208.
Baptist Village Communities is excited to see where this fund can take this ministry, as BVC continues to lead the way in shaping the future of aging services.
Click here to read the full article on The Baptist Messenger.
