Hanifa always treasured her home, its quiet corners, familiar sounds, and memories tucked into every room. But as her vision dimmed and walking from one spot to another grew harder, the comfort she’d always felt began to slip away. Simple things, like finding her cell phone or answering the door, turned into anxious moments. Some nights, worry crept in: If she needed help, would she be able to reach anyone?
“Sometimes I just can’t see where the phone is,” Hanifa confessed, recalling with a smile the times she’d search for it by touch. But beneath her laughter lingered real uncertainty: If she slipped, if she fell, how would she call for help?
Hanifa’s son noticed the subtle shifts in her confidence. Wanting his mom to feel safe at home again, he found KenCrest’s Enabling Technology program and reached out, hoping for a brighter solution. That simple act, a phone call, sparked a transformation.
Karen Latimer, KenCrest’s Director of Enabling Technology, arrived at Hanifa’s door not with tests or technical jargon, but with warmth and understanding. She sat beside Hanifa, listened to her stories, and gently asked what would make her feel secure. “She came and explained to me what it is about… and I was pretty interested. It wasn’t difficult,” Hanifa recalls. Karen understood Hanifa’s world: the blurry edges, the slow steps. Together, they found technology that could ease her path.
The updates were surprisingly simple, yet their impact rippled through Hanifa’s daily life. A voice assistant, Alexa, sometimes Ziggy, became her companion. With just a word, Hanifa could check the time, hear the latest forecast, play favorite songs, and, most importantly, call for help. The “buddy system” meant Hanifa could reach her son or daughter instantly, her voice bridging any distance. “If anything should happen, I can always ask them to call my buddy… if I am in any trouble, any distress.”
Technology even brought small triumphs, like the day her granddaughter arrived, and Hanifa wasn’t home. Instead of panic, Hanifa used her smart-lock to unlock the door remotely, feeling proud and empowered. “I was able to let her in, just like that,” she says, beaming.
At first, Hanifa hesitated. All the gadgets seemed daunting, another challenge to overcome. But Karen’s patient guidance made each step feel possible. “She was always there, helping me learn. Anything I didn’t understand, she explained,” Hanifa remembers. Now, she’s not just comfortable, but eager to keep exploring. “There’s always something new to discover,” she says.
Inspired by her own progress, Hanifa gently nudges others to try the program. She knows some feel unsure; can they really master new technology? But Hanifa hopes her story will show them the answer is yes, and that it’s worth the leap.
For Hanifa, KenCrest’s Enabling Technology didn’t just bring devices and apps. It brought back her sense of safety, her independence, her hope. “Karen was wonderful, too,” Hanifa adds, grateful for the human touch behind every tool.
These days, Hanifa knows help is just a word away, whether she’s seeking advice, learning a new recipe, or making a grocery list. She’s discovered that technology isn’t something to fear; it’s something that adapts to her needs and opens doors to life. KenCrest gave Hanifa more than gadgets. They gave her confidence and the freedom to shape each day her own way.
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