iTigers Fan -- Front Row Seats from 2,000 Miles Away

Latest technology keeps Maryland senior connected to playoff bound Detroit Tigers

(SILVER SPRING, MD) - This week as the Detroit Tigers clinched the American League Central division and third baseman Miguel Cabrara stood to capture baseball's coveted triple crown, Patricia Gibson White sat glued to her Apple TV, more than 2,000 miles away, not missing a second of the drama. 
  
A Detroit native, White now lives at Riderwood, an Erickson Living community in Silver Spring, Md. With the help of Apple TV, a digital media receiver connected to her personal computer, she has not missed a Tigers game all season. 
 

"I grew up as a young girl in Detroit watching the Tigers," says White.  "It's part of my history and my enjoyment. My dad was a Detroit police officer in the 1930's and he would take me to the games along with the school safety patrol students from the public schools. I love that even now, thousands of miles away, I can bring the Tigers games into my living room."

In her retirement, White has made every effort to keep up with the latest technology.  In addition to the Apple TV she also owns an iPad which also enables her to follow the Tigers and keep in touch with friends and family throughout the country. 
  
White is not alone in her desire to use the latest technology to her advantage.  According to a report released earlier this year by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 53% of American adults age 65 or older use the Internet or email, up from 40% just a year ago. 
  
"The benefits of learning new technology is definitely worth the cost of the technology itself," says White.  "It is wonderful to be able to talk with family and see their faces. I've been able to see the flowers as they grow in my daughter's yard in Michigan and I have been present for special occasions on the iPad screen." 
  
In addition to the personal benefits of keeping in touch with loved ones, technology usage may also be good for your health.  According to research from the Mayo Clinic, stimulating computer activity, when combined with exercise, could lower the risk of memory loss in older adults.  In addition, seniors who adopt new technology are found to be more confident, as they're more able to stay connected with their friends, family, and the community at large, an Australian study suggests.  
  
"I've found as I continue to work with the Apple TV and my iPad, I get more proficient every day," says White.  "If I find myself with a problem I cannot figure out then I call my grandson or granddaughter. They can usually walk me through it. We even get out our iPads and use the iChat to figure out problems." 
  
Now, as the Detroit Tigers begin the second part of their journey to the World Series, White is problem free and ready to catch every swing of the bat. 
  
"The quality of a person's life is often about their day to day enjoyment," she says.  "And I believe technology can really enhance a person's connections." 
 

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About Riderwood:  Riderwood, developed and managed by Erickson Living, has over 2,500 residents and is the nation's largest continuing care retirement community.  Additional information on this resort-style campus can be found at: https://tiny.cc/nvhklw.