While Gen Z might be coined the most tech-savvy generation, more and more older adults are embracing technology as an indispensable tool for staying connected with family and friends, maintaining independence and filling their calendars with social opportunities.

Through a peer-to-peer ambassador program, residents in Masonic Homes Kentucky’s Active Lifestyle Communities have found staying connected much easier through the adoption of a new community app platform, Uniguest.

Miralea Resident Services Manager Megan Lewis was part of the team responsible for helping implement Uniguest at our three Active Lifestyle Communities, and train residents on how to use the technology.

“I knew for this integration to be successful, we needed to enlist tech-savvy residents to lead the charge,” Megan said. “We are very fortunate to have very active residents and knew that once we trained a core ambassador group, those individuals would bring everyone else along.”

Uniguest is a customizable, easy to use app that can be used across multiple platforms, replacing a technology that was strictly tablet-based. Using an icon format, residents can find answers to simple questions like if the mail has been delivered or what’s for lunch. They can also access all the activities going on at the communities. Searches can be filtered to show only preferred activities, and things happening at the resident’s respective community or campus-wide.

The ambassador group consisted of 11 residents who were known to embrace technology, and be influencers within their communities.

For Miralea resident and Uniguest ambassador Louree Eason, this was not the first time she had been recruited to learn and test new innovations for the community. As a former educator, she was asked to go through training with the community staff when they introduced the first tablet-based app, and now her tech savviness is famous among Miralea residents.

“They think I’m tech savvy but when I told my daughter she thought it was the funniest thing she ever heard,” Louree said.

Training sessions were held for residents, with refresher courses still occurring. A step-by-step PowerPoint developed by Meadow resident and Uniguest ambassador Jim Brunnhoeffer makes it easier for visual learners.

From experience as a professor who taught computer applications to college freshmen at 8 am, he understood the importance of engaging all kinds of learners.

“A lot of people can learn just by listening, but others are visual learners and understand better if they see it,” said Jim. “Uniguest is easier to use than our previous app and much more intuitive. Plus, you can have it on multiple platforms including your phone. I foresee a lot more residents taking advantage of the activities going on and finding it to be a valuable resource.”

Louree agrees that having the app on her phone has been an unexpected perk. “I did not think I would like putting the app on my phone but I’ve found I access it regularly. I have some vision problems so the ability to enlarge the type has been very helpful.”

With a former career in information technology, Miralea resident Maggie Chilton’s goal during the ambassador training was to try to “break the app” and identify where there might be issues and bugs that needed worked out before introducing Uniguest to the masses.

Megan said, “Maggie went a step further and created a handout that featured each of the app’s icons and a summary of what residents could find within each and how to find the information they wanted. It has been a great reference tool for residents who have completed training.”

One of the best things about Uniguest is the social connection it can provide, especially to new residents.

“Each resident has their own profile that can be personalized with a photo, hobbies and areas of interest. For instance, an avid knitter can easily find residents with like interest by simply entering the word knitting in the search bar to be connected with others who enjoy the same hobby,” Megan said. “Socialization and connecting with new friends is so important in community living, and the app will make it that much easier.”

Consensus so far is favorable. “I think a lot of residents are really excited about getting new technology,” Louree said. “For some people, anything new can be a little frightening, but with a little practice, most are going to really enjoy having all this information readily available at their fingertips.”

Uniguest offers a lot of personalization and features that gives it legs so it will be adaptable to the communities’ needs. Next steps include investigating the feasibility of allowing online reservations and take-out orders at the on-site restaurants, and being able to track a resident’s monthly expenditures.

Amazing things are happening at our Active Lifestyle Communities. Click below to take a virtual tour of our Aster floorplan apartment. Deposit before the end of 2024 to lock in savings. Call 502.897.8727 to schedule.

December 11, 2024