Keeping in touch - Joan Wilson (at keyboard) gets e-mail tips from Hilton East Recreation Director Bonnie Beiswenger. They've been working together on the computer, learning how to e-mail messages, for a couple of weeks. Joan, a Hilton East resident, wants to keep in touch with her step-daughter on Canaseroga, NY. Photograph for Westside News Inc. by Walter Horylev.

A new piece of equipment has been added to the Recreation Department at Hilton-East Adult Care Community - a computer and printer dedicated to resident use.

The Recreation Department began thinking about the potential benefits of e-mail for the residents because so many residents have out-of town family and friends, some have no phones in their rooms or find long distance calls too expensive and troublesome.

Now that H-E residents are on-line, anyone can contact a resident via a general Hilton-East e-mail address directed to their attention. Several residents have registered with an electronic mail service with their own e-mail addresses and are enjoying receiving letters, cards and family photos and sending weekly messages back and forth. They are also being constantly amazed at what they can find on the internet.

"Using the mouse has been the most taxing part of computer use for the residents," according to Bonnie Beiswenger, the recreation director. "We have set aside Thursday mornings for residents to come in and "play" with the system and practice - and we try to make ourselves available to assist as much as possible during the week. We are looking into simplifying technologies, such as the touch screen, to facilitate residents' fuller use of the internet in the future."