At Oakwood Manor, our long-term care and memory care community in beautiful Victoria, BC, innovation is about more than keeping up with technology. It’s about creating opportunities for residents to connect, engage, and thrive in new ways.
Thanks to the support of the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) grant, Oakwood Manor recently introduced a suite of exciting new tools designed to enhance daily life and promote well-being for residents in long-term and memory care. These include a large SMART Board, an interactive projector, and a larger high-definition television, all thoughtfully chosen to make participation easier, more inclusive, and more fun.
Technology designed with seniors in mind
The SMART Board is far more than a piece of classroom equipment. It’s a bridge to engagement and discovery. Its large, bright display allows everyone in the room to clearly see what’s being shared, making it ideal for group games, educational sessions, and social gatherings.
For many residents, especially those with visual or hearing changes, the difference is immediately noticeable. The clear, high-contrast display and large text make reading easier, while the ability to interact directly with the screen—drawing, tapping, or writing—turns passive watching into active participation.
The interactive projector adds another layer of accessibility and fun. It projects vivid images onto a table or wall surface, and residents can interact simply by touching or moving their hands across the light. The games range from simple to more challenging, ideal for different ability levels, and the technology adjusts seamlessly to each resident’s comfort and pace.
The new equipment has brought residents together in ways that were not possible before. The SMART Board, with its large, bright display, allows the team to access a wide variety of online resources that were previously difficult to use on a small computer screen, enabling everyone to participate and engage fully in activities.
Powered by community support
Both the SMART Board and interactive projector, as well as Oakwood Manor’s new large television, were made possible through funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), a federal initiative that supports projects empowering older adults to participate in community life.
This grant has allowed the team to explore new ways of bringing creativity, education, and connection to residents, while also helping team members grow their own skills with new technology.
The introduction of these tools was made possible through the support of the NHSP grant, which has opened the door to a variety of new activities at Oakwood Manor. Residents now have greater opportunities for cognitive stimulation, social engagement, and lifelong learning—elements that play a key role in supporting well-being at every stage of life.
How residents are responding
Change can sometimes bring hesitation, but at Oakwood Manor, the new technology has been met with curiosity, laughter, and enthusiasm.
The SMART Board has quickly become a hub of activity. Residents use it to play trivia, explore interactive maps, and even take part in creative writing or art sessions. For those who prefer to observe quietly, the bright visuals still offer stimulation and interest, drawing attention and sparking conversation.
The interactive projector has quickly become a favourite among residents. As the team continues to explore its features, many residents are drawn to the games that involve sweeping motions or touching projected objects, delighting in experiences like watching fish swim across the table or flowers bloom beneath their fingertips.
For some residents, especially those living with cognitive changes, these tactile, visual experiences can be especially meaningful. The light, movement, and sound combine to create moments of joy and discovery that transcend language or memory.
Real moments of connection
There’s something extraordinary about the way technology can spark connection when used with care and creativity.
Some residents who rarely engaged with traditional group activities have been immediately drawn to the interactive projector. Captivated by the images of fish swimming across the surface, they reach out to touch them, smiling and laughing, demonstrating that engagement can flourish through shared experiences, even without words.
Moments like these demonstrate the deeper value of introducing new tools: they help residents reconnect with curiosity, express themselves in new ways, and experience joy in the moment.
Building confidence for residents and team members
Introducing new technology always involves a learning curve. The team at Oakwood Manor has embraced the challenge with patience and creativity.
Team members now use the technology in creative ways: displaying large-print trivia questions that everyone can read easily, writing directly on virtual maps to explore geography lessons, and projecting videos that prompt reminiscence or storytelling.
The experience has also strengthened collaboration among team members, as they share discoveries, troubleshoot, and exchange ideas on how to use the equipment in new and engaging ways.
Unexpected creativity
What’s most inspiring is how the residents themselves are shaping the way these tools are used.
Some use the SMART Board to write messages or draw pictures for others. Others suggest topics for trivia, songs for sing-alongs, or ideas for virtual trips. The interactive projector has even inspired spontaneous art-making sessions, where light and motion become tools for expression.
Watching these creative moments unfold has been a joy for the team. Residents have taken remarkable ownership of the technology, often surprising team members with new ways to use it, bringing laughter, collaboration, and a sense of shared discovery to every activity.
Supporting cognitive wellness and connection
At its heart, the technology at Oakwood Manor isn’t about the gadgets themselves—it’s about what they make possible.
These tools stimulate different parts of the brain through movement, colour, and interaction. For example, when residents use the SMART Board to identify provinces on a map or play memory games, they strengthen cognitive pathways while enjoying themselves.
Likewise, group trivia or word games encourage social connection, teamwork, and laughter. The ability to see and hear clearly means no one is left out, and everyone, regardless of ability, can participate meaningfully.
Even residents who aren’t able to answer questions aloud can still follow along visually, keeping that part of their brain active. Their engagement is evident through facial expressions, gestures, and attentive participation.
This approach reflects Optima Living’s philosophy of whole-person wellness, nurturing the mind, body, and spirit through experiences that build confidence, connection, and joy.
Looking ahead
The success of this initiative has inspired new ideas for the future. Oakwood Manor is exploring opportunities to expand the use of technology even further, from virtual travel programs and music therapy to interactive art projects and personalized cognitive games.
As the team continues to innovate, the focus remains the same: using technology not to replace human care, but to enhance it and make every interaction more inclusive, every day more engaging, and every resident feel seen, heard, and valued.
Technology is often seen as futuristic, but for us, it’s deeply human. It helps residents stay curious, connected, and active in ways that bring out their personalities and strengths.
And that’s the true promise of innovation in senior living - not complexity, but simplicity. Not replacing people, but bringing them closer together.
At our Optima Living communities, that future is already here, and it’s bright, interactive, and filled with life.
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About Optima Living
Optima Living is a trusted community of senior living residences across Western Canada, with over 15 years of commitment to creating home-style living rooted in respect, dignity, and purpose. With a range of independent, assisted, memory living and long-term care options and a heartfelt commitment to our North Star “Let us welcome you home,” Optima Living empowers seniors to thrive in a caring environment where personal choice, meaningful connections, and well-being come first.
