MALVERN, Ark. (KTHV) -- It's hard sometimes for families to visit their loved ones in assisted living, but with new technology, The Crossings at Malvern brings them together over the Internet.
"Vizsit," the program The Crossings uses, is a secure video platform with multiple embedded security features that works similar to Skype.
The difference is, residents don't have to log on to their computer. There is a station at the facility that family members set up a time to visit and residents are notified and brought in.
"For the residents it means a lot, because it gives them the opportunity to see grandchildren and great grandchildren," Mandy Ledbetter says. Ledbetter is the adminustator for the Crossing at Malvern.
"It's wonderful, it's unbelievable, isn't it," Betty Mossman says. She has seven great-grandchildren , three in Maryland and four in Michigan, so keeping up with them as they grow is important.
"They call her frequently on the phone but it's not quite the same as actually seeing them," Martha Smither says. Smither is Mossman's daughter; she lives near and visits often. "Occasionally there are days I can't come and this will be a wonderful opportunity to just check up and say, hi mom."
"With the elderly, they change so much from one time to the next you may see them today and they're fine and the next week it may be something completely different," Ledbetter said.