It had only been 15 minutes since Gore Mutual Insurance announced its donation of 20 Lenovo laptop computers to the Bennett Centre and already the residents were gathered around the table typing.
“I love the fact that they’re already being used,” said Gore Mutual’s Steve Hebert.
Each time a Gore Mutual staff member finished setting up a computer at the Georgetown long-term care facility, there was a resident there waiting to use it.
“In a world where technology connects us across distances, the digital divide can feel especially daunting for residents in long-term care,” said Carol Rame,
associate director of development for Bennett Village.
“This brings new opportunities for connection and engagement to our residents. This thoughtful initiative aims to enrich the lives of our residents, fostering communication.”
“It’s awesome,” said Bennett resident William Lachuta Jr., who is working on a book about his family, but up until now has been having a family member transcribe his notes.
Hebert said the company has been donating computers for years. He was recently working with Barry Dawson, vice-president of Bennett Village’s board of directors. Upon hearing about Gore Mutual’s program, Dawson mentioned the local non-profit long-term care residence as a place that could benefit from the program.
And judging by the residents' enthusiastic response, he was right.
