Apr 30, 2021 | Senior Issues Group, Staying on Top
A window to loved ones donated to assisted living residents through “tech centers”
Bill Vicary, Founder of Just Call Bill, saw a need long before COVID hit to have residents in senior living communities better connected to their families and friends who were far away, or not able to visit as frequently as they would like. Vicary developed an idea for senior tech centers when this lack of communication became exacerbated by the pandemic. Visitors not allowed to nursing homes meant increased isolation, depression, loneliness, stress, and anxiety. Typically, senior living communities do not use technology to help engage and benefit the residents.
About a year ago, Vicary was speaking with Stan Means, President of Elder Source Senior Ministries about various topics and issues facing seniors. They talked about the “digital divide,” that vast chasm between those who have access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. They came up with a solution to get seniors connected to their families and friends. Means obtained funding, and Vicary selected the equipment, a 52” Smart TV on a portable stand, the latest iPad in a durable case, and all the adaptors and cables required to operate on a community’s Wi-Fi system. Each tech center costs approximately $1,100.
The first Tech Center donation and installation was done just before Thanksgiving of 2020 at Shepherd’s Care Assisted Living Center in Greenville. When asked about the Tech Center, Director at Shepherd’s Care, Eric Thompson said, “It’s been wonderful. It has become part of our family when we needed it the most.”
Vicary installed the equipment and instructed the staff on how to use it. Now most of the staff can easily roll the setup where it is needed, plug the iPad into the TV, and connect residents to their loved ones. Staff members see the joy firsthand when a loved one’s face appears on the screen.
The virtual visit unit has far exceeded what Thompson’s expectations. Residents have met a newborn great-grandchild, virtually toured a granddaughter’s new apartment, celebrated holidays together, and even attended a funeral of a lifelong friend.
Sometimes the staff will roll out the unit for residents to watch “Frenchie Fails on YouTube,” which always brings laughs, especially since the mascot at Shepherd’s Care is a French Bulldog named Mabel.
The Tech Center was a relief for families not being able to visit. The virtual visits gave them a better picture of how their loved ones were doing.
Although visitors are now allowed, Shephard’s Care will continue to use the unit for families who do not live close enough to visit. “There is still a great need to connect seniors and their families, so Stan and I are seeking donations to provide more Tech Centers to deserving senior communities in the upstate,” says Vicary.
If you would like more information about installing a tech center, please contact Bill Vicary at bill@vicarymanagementgroup.com. Bill’s company, Just Call Bill provides technology services to senior adults and their families so they can be better connected. Bill has worked with hundreds of seniors throughout the South Carolina teaching senior adults how to use their technology more effectively and safely, as well as other educational programs.
For more information on Elder Source Senior Ministries, please contact Stan Means at 864.630.2952. Elder Source has the capability to accept grants from those who would be interested in dedicating a tech center to an assisted living center for a loved one.
Oct 30, 2020 | Safer Upstate, Staying on Top, Uncategorized
Following a series of four meetings convened through Ten at the Top (TATT), the Creating a Safer Upstate Discovery Committee has announced a series of recommendations designed to promote collaboration among stakeholders in fostering a culture in the Upstate that respects and values the lives of all officers and residents. To view the list of recommendations, click here.
The Discovery Committee was originally convened by Terence Roberts, Chairman of the Ten at the Top Board of Directors and the Mayor of the City of Anderson, following a number of highly publicized instances of police force across the country.
“While our region has been fortunate not to have seen the violence and social unrest that has occurred in other parts of the country, we do recognize that not every Upstate resident feels safe or trusts our law enforcement officers, Roberts said. “We felt with the platform already established by Ten at the Top to be a neutral convener, that we had an opportunity to proactively engage stakeholders across the region around the topic of creating a safer region for all residents.”
The Creating a Safer Upstate Discovery Committee consisted of more than 50 representatives from local governments, law enforcement, community organizations, faith leaders and Upstate businesses. The committee met virtually four times to discuss opportunities for how to create a united Upstate region where all stakeholders work collaboratively to ensure that we foster a culture that respects and values the lives of our law enforcement officers and all residents.
As the primary strategy, the Discover Committee recommends the development of a Safer Upstate Steering Committee to represent, support and communicate local efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and community residents across the region. The Safer Upstate Steering Committee will focus on the following three goals:
1. Engage law enforcement officials, community leaders and residents to work together to build healthy working relationships that elevate mutual respect, value cultural differences, and acknowledge the roles and responsibilities that each play in creating safer Upstate Communities.
2. Provide regular opportunities for law enforcement and community leaders to convene to proactively discuss community issues and emerging law enforcement topics while exploring approaches that can be implemented across the Upstate Region.
3. Enhance public trust by identifying, sharing and implementing best practice approaches for developing a sustainable, healthy relationship between law enforcement officials and the greater Upstate Community.
The Steering Committee will be under the leadership of co-chairs Sheriff Rick Clark and Stinson Ferguson. Both Upstate natives, Sheriff Clark has been the sheriff of Pickens county since 2013 while Ferguson is Special Counsel for Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. in Greenville.
More information about the Safer Upstate initiative can be found at www.tenatthetop.org. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Safer Upstate Steering Committee is invited to reach out to Justine Allen, TATT Program Manager, at jallen@tenatthetop.org or 864-283-0346.
ABOUT TEN AT THE TOP
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.
To view the list of recommendations, click here.
Creating a Safer Upstate Discovery Committee Members
|
First Name
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Last Name
|
Organization
|
Position
|
|
Katherine
|
Amidon
|
Synterra
|
Market Leader, Environmental Planning
|
|
Bill
|
Barnet
|
Barnet Development Group
|
CEO
|
|
Steve
|
Brown
|
Greenwood County
|
Chairman
|
|
Carol
|
Burdette
|
United Way of Anderson County
|
President
|
|
Paul
|
Cain
|
Oconee County
|
Councilman
|
|
Becky
|
Callaham
|
Safe Harbor
|
Executive Director
|
|
Rick
|
Clark
|
Pickens County
|
Sheriff
|
|
Roy
|
Costner
|
Pickens County
|
Chairman
|
|
Michael
|
Cunningham
|
AnMed Health
|
Vice President for Advancement
|
|
Rick
|
Danner
|
City of Greer
|
Mayor
|
|
Chandra
|
Dillard
|
SC House
|
Representative
|
|
Sean
|
Dogan
|
Urban League of the Upstate
|
Interim CEO
|
|
Stephanie
|
Enders
|
Ripple of One
|
Executive Director
|
|
David
|
Feild
|
Colliers International
|
Market President
|
|
Stinson
|
Ferguson
|
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
|
Special Counsel
|
|
Santana
|
Freeman
|
City of Abbeville
|
Mayor
|
|
Freddie
|
Gault
|
Office of Congressman William Timmons
|
Outreach Director
|
|
LaTorrie
|
Geer
|
Community Works
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
Danielle
|
Gibbs
|
Senator Scott Office
|
Upstate Director
|
|
Charlie
|
Hall
|
Upstate Warrior Solution
|
Executive Director
|
|
Matt
|
Hamby
|
City of Greer
|
Police Chief
|
|
Michael
|
Hildebrand
|
Upstate Mobility Alliance
|
Director of Inclusion & Diversity
|
|
Dan
|
Holland
|
Oconee County
|
Cultural Diversity Director
|
|
Todd
|
Horne
|
Clayton Construction
|
Vice President
|
|
Missy
|
House
|
City of Inman
|
City Administrator
|
|
Tammie
|
Hoy Hawkins
|
Community Works
|
CEO
|
|
Dean
|
Hybl
|
Ten at the Top
|
Executive Director
|
|
Scott
|
Junkins
|
Harris Flooring America
|
Owner
|
|
Kimbrelly
|
Kegler
|
Michelin
|
Future Product Portfolio Leader
|
|
Dennis
|
Kelly
|
Greenwood County
|
Sheriff
|
|
Mitch
|
Kennedy
|
City of Spartanburg
|
Assistant City Manager
|
|
Butch
|
Kirven
|
Greenville County
|
Chairman
|
|
Sonny
|
Ledda
|
City of Clinton
|
Police Chief
|
|
Jil
|
Littlejohn
|
Hubbell Incorporated
|
Director of Inclusion & Diversity
|
|
Erwin
|
Maddrey
|
Maddrey & Associates
|
CEO
|
|
David
|
McCuen
|
City of Anderson
|
City Manager
|
|
Keith
|
McDaniel
|
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
|
Pastor
|
|
Adela
|
Mendoza
|
Hispanic Alliance
|
Executive Director
|
|
Stacey
|
Mills
|
USC-Upstate
|
University Center Executive Director
|
|
Amanda
|
Munyan
|
Laurens County Chamber
|
President
|
|
Floyd
|
Nicholson
|
SC Senate
|
Senator
|
|
Carlos
|
Phillips
|
Greenville Chamber
|
CEO
|
|
Andrena
|
Powell-Baker
|
Lockhart Power
|
Senior Manager
|
|
Tricia
|
Ravenhorst
|
SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
|
General Counsel
|
|
Terence
|
Roberts
|
City of Anderson
|
Mayor
|
|
Jim
|
Shew
|
Marsh & McLennan
|
Vice President
|
|
George
|
Shira
|
Milliken
|
Vice President of Human Resources
|
|
Paige
|
Stephenson
|
United Way of the Piedmont
|
President
|
|
Jim
|
Stewart
|
City of Anderson
|
Police Chief
|
|
Harold
|
Thompson
|
City of Union
|
Mayor
|
|
Alonzo
|
Thompson
|
City of Spartanburg
|
Police Chief
|
|
Theresa
|
Thompson
|
Upstate Warrior Solution
|
Deputy Director
|
|
Wendy
|
Walden
|
Greenville Tech
|
Associate Vice President
|
|
Greg
|
Whitaker
|
Clemson University
|
Deputy Campus Police Chief
|
Aug 14, 2020 | Staying on Top
Welcome – Terence Roberts, TATT Chairman
Sam Konduros, President and CEO, SCBIO
Guest Presentation – Sam Konduros, President and CEO, SCBIO (South Carolina Biotechnology Industry Organization)
- While other industries are down as a result of the pandemic, life sciences are up. From testing to face shields to respiratory drugs, the life science industry is an important part of the fight against COVID-19.
- Repatriation and onshoring of life science companies will put the U.S. on a more solid footing in the future in terms of drug and PPE production.
- Third party study was done to reveal the growth of the industry across the state
- 50,000 jobs, $14 billion annual impact
- What is life science? Drugs & pharmaceuticals, med tech, digital health/heath IT (software, apps, etc.), research/testing/medical labs, bioscience distribution, and bio/agriculture
- See his presentation here
- You can read Sam’s guest post on our Staying on Top blog here
TATT Updates
Dean Hybl, TATT Executive Director
- Next TATT Chat with Sean Dogan, August 27th—register here
- Networking time 20 minutes prior to the meeting on upcoming TATT Chats! Sign on early to network with friends and colleagues.
Justine Allen, Program and Event Coordinator:
- First Sneak Pique event on September 14th—virtual happy hour! Register here
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County Updates
Abbeville County (Shannon Sears, WCTEL):
- About 30% of students will be participating in online schooling
- CARES grants for fiber upgrades to underserved areas
Cherokee County (Drake Scott, Main Street Director, City of Gaffney):
- Despite COVID-19 challenges, good things happening at BGEN, Gaffney’s small business incubator
- 8 businesses housed in the incubator
- First graduate of the incubator: Zachary’s Coffee Shop is moving out to a building in downtown this weekend
- ARC grant to do renovations to the BGEN building to expand office space for more residents
Greenwood County (Art Bush, Greenwood Partnership Alliance):
- Transition in Greenwood County—county council voted to leave the partnership alliance and take industrial development with it
- Re-examining mission, will continue with activities that were going on: workforce development, public transportation, housing, city center development, and working with Greenwood Genetics Center, which just launched a
- Drone project with five industrial projects
Spartanburg County (Bea Smith, Spartanburg Community College Foundation):
- We are open for business! Never really stopped, transitioned to virtual classes in the spring and continued throughout the summer
- Dr. Henry Giles retired as president this summer after 50 years of service
- Welcomed new president, Dr. Michael Mikota
- SCC Foundation has worked to make students aware of emergency fund and book fund
- School starts Monday—virtual, hybrid, and face to face
Union County (Curtiss Hunter, Union County Tourism):
- Continuing to work on comprehensive plan, hope it will be adopted before the year’s end
- Formed a recreation/event task force to help citizens who are hosting events, to keep people in compliance and safe
- Private developer who created a western town as a tourist attraction on the Pacolet River called Wildwood Ranch—beautiful facility for events, working with him to get that up and running once the pandemic subsides
