Carol Klein and Marie McIntyre at The Osborn’s resident-run iPad Clinic.
What’s Happening at The Osborn? There’s an app for that!
The Osborn offers a community app residents can access from a phone, tablet or computer. It features resident and staff directories, daily menus and specials, activities, dining reservations, food delivery, announcements and more.
Carol Klein and Marie McIntyre have a lot in common: they live at The Osborn, are in their 90s, and are witty, wise and curious. They also share a passion for learning, which is proving to be contagious.
Carol and Marie volunteer at an informal “iPad Clinic” on campus to help fellow residents navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. But their story is about so much more than technology. It’s about purpose, generosity and lifelong learning. Technology is simply the vehicle.
Residents gather at the clinic carrying phones, tablets and laptops – and sometimes a healthy dose of frustration. Marie and Carol patiently help troubleshoot everything from forgotten passwords to sending family photos. They’re quick to point out they aren’t technology gurus.
“We Google a lot,” Carol said, and laughed. “And we ask AI.”
From a Class to a Clinic
The clinic has evolved from an occasional resource into a growing resident-led program with the addition of new volunteers. Residents can now receive tech support, usually four times a month, with clinics held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Support from The Osborn’s IT team is available as well, and Marie and Carol occasionally make house calls.
Carol became involved with the clinic a few years ago, after attending an on-campus iPad class as an “observer” who found herself frequently helping fellow residents there. The class was offered by the IT department at The Osborn. “Eventually, IT realized that a class was not the most efficient way to address everyone’s individual questions, so it evolved into a clinic,” Carol said. “And voilà – Marie and I were it.”
The name, iPad Clinic, stuck although residents can bring in any device – a phone, tablet or computer. Questions range from the basics, such as, “How do I turn off my phone?” or “How do I use the calculator app?” to some very challenging queries.
“Many people are simply afraid of their devices, particularly when they are just starting out,” Marie said. “They’ll say, ‘It’s too complicated. I can’t do that.’ We encourage them to keep trying and show them that they can do it. We’re therapists in disguise.”
Where Their Own Confidence Came From
When computers were first being introduced, Marie recalled, she was working at Thomson Corp. of America, a French electronics company. “They sent me to computer classes. I learned I couldn’t ruin anything. I couldn’t break it. I could turn it off, and it would be all right. Even that small amount of confidence can make a tremendous difference,” Marie said.
Carol, too, embraced technology early on, while teaching chemistry at Westchester Community College.
“When personal computers first came out, several of us in the various science departments went to Radio Shack to learn the basics,” Carol said. “As technology evolved, SUNY launched an initiative focused on online learning, and we became what they called ‘distance learning buddies,’ helping faculty adapt to new technology. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll figure it out. Google it. That’s what we do.”
Lighter Moments at the Clinic
In addition to troubleshooting and support, there also are some lighter moments at the clinic.
“One of my favorites was when a resident came in and said she wanted to learn how to take a selfie,” said Carol. “So, I showed her how, we took the picture, and she looked at it and said, ‘That is not me.’ Then she got up and left.”
“I had a resident call me because she couldn’t get anything to work on her iPhone,” Marie added. “I said, ‘Turn it off.’ She replied, ‘Oh, I can’t do that. I’ll lose everything. Can you come to my apartment?’ So, I went over, turned her phone off, turned it back on, and everything came right back. She looked at me and said, ‘You’re a genius,’ and then she gave me a lollipop.”
Beyond the Devices
There’s much more to life at The Osborn beyond technology, however. For Carol, that’s spending time with Lennox, her mixed-breed rescue dog. Marie helps husband John with finding lyrics for his sing-alongs. Both women are very active in The Osborn community, which they agree encourages people to keep learning and sharing their talents.
“You don’t stop learning…you have to keep learning or your life is over,” said Marie. “John and I often have dinner with people who are considering moving to The Osborn, and many of them say, ‘We’re not ready yet. We’re still active.’ We tell them that’s exactly why they should come while they’re still able to enjoy everything that’s here.”
Carol agreed: “We have so many residents who are eager to share what they know or start something new. We have a retired biochemist who started a poker group, a retired neurobiologist who teaches Mahjong, a retired history professor who organizes hikes and card games, and a retired judge who helped expand our bridge program. It’s not just about what people did professionally – it’s about what they’re interested in now.
“The administration is also very receptive to new ideas. That’s really the beauty of it. You can be as independent as you want to be. It’s entirely up to you.”