On Oct. 11, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 21 of Concord presented $1,500 to Paula-Carol Alger, president of the Department of N.H. American Legion Auxiliary for her year-long project to provide technology to support veterans who have Alzheimer disease or dementia at N.H. Veterans Home in Tilton.
The project, “It’s Never Too Late: Dignity Through Technology,” features a picture-based touchscreen interface that engages patients in educational, spiritual and personalized content designed to improve hand-eye coordination, memory and also uses adapted systems to stimulate cognitive abilities as part of a rehabilitation program.
The members of Unit 21 raised the funds to contribute to this project by sponsoring a fundraiser in memory of their former Auxiliary president Jodi Robinson. who passed away Christmas Eve after a long battle with cancer. Other funds were raised from the Poppy Fund, used solely for the benefit of veterans.
Alger explained the importance of this technology to patients and their families alike, as memories often awaken and conversations and connections, previously not remembered, may take place.