Sojourn takes top Dignity Award in 2012 McKnight's Technology Awards

Sojourn Senior Living is taking home the Gold Award in the McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards — Connect Our World — in the category honoring resident dignity. The Kankakee, IL-based continuing care retirement community incorporated a driving simulator and joystick that allowed a resident to operate a motorized wheelchair.

The first annual technology awards were launched this year, in cooperation with American Health Tech, to recognize providers’ use of technology to enhance senior living services. The dignity category recognizes superior efforts in using technology to improve the level of dignity among residents.

The first Sojourn resident to benefit from the joystick-steered wheelchair had previously been unable to operate a motorized wheelchair, due to complications from a stroke. The new and improved wheelchair gave him more mobility and improved his fine motor skills, prompting one judge to comment the project “had a measurable impact.” McKnight’s Editorial Director John O’Connor characterized the Sojourn technology as “truly inspiring.”

Earning the Silver Award for the dignity category was California-based Carlton Senior Living, which provides therapeutic music through tablet computers. Illinois-based Wabash Christian Retirement Center took home the Bronze Award for its Internet-based menus, which help residents feel as if they are dining in a restaurant.

In all, the McKnight’s Excellence In Technology Awards will recognize winners in five categories. Click here for Monday’s announcement. The schedule for the rest of this week’s announcements can be found below:

Wednesday – High Tech/High Touch

Recognizes how technology was used to improve staff-resident interaction.

Thursday – Innovator of the Year

This honors a notably innovative use of technology to improve both care and the bottom line.

Friday – Transitions Award

Recognizes an organization that harnessed technology to improve and/or reduce transitions between long-term care facilities and other care settings.