Easy-To-Use Tech solution helps families connect with seniors and prevent social isolation
I have a mother I adore – she’s strong, wise, funny, and kind. I’m grateful for her every day.
She’s 89 years old and lives alone. After 59 years of marriage, she was widowed when my dad had a sudden brain hemorrhage.
Caring for my mother is a meaningful part of my life – but it isn’t always easy.
I don’t live near enough to visit as often as I’d like and the rest of our family is scattered across the country as well.
Because my mom can’t easily go out and see family or friends, I worry that she’ll become isolated and lonely.
And with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it can be difficult for our family to stay in touch in traditional ways.
To boost her mood and prevent her from feeling alone, I’m always looking for simple ways to help her keep in touch with me, family, and close friends.
Fortunately, I found a solution that works for us.
Being social is critical for senior health
In a series of studies of tens of thousands of older adults, researchers examined the lifestyle factors that predict longevity.
Surprisingly, the most important factor was not exercise or even quitting smoking. The top two most important factors in predicting longevity were
- Being social and
- Close relationships
Being social includes all social interactions with anyone, big and small. For example, how often your parent sees another human, chats on a video call, talks on the phone, receives a photograph, connects with a grandchild, or sends/receives a letter.
That’s why it’s so important to make it easy for older adults to stay connected with family and friends, maintain their close relationships, and generally be social.
GrandPad is an easy, safe way to stay connected with family and friends
There are plenty of tablets on the market, but none of them were right for my mom. They had too many complicated features, I would have to be her tech support, and I worried about her getting scammed on the Internet.
What I like best about grandPad is that it focuses on connecting with trusted family and friends.
The large buttons and easy-to-use design make it a simple tablet for seniors who are ready to start video chatting and sharing memories with family and friends around the world.
Plus, grandPad includes over 30 million songs plus weather, news, brain-stimulating games, and excellent customer support from people based in the US.
And it’s also designed to work for people with lower vision and hearing impairments.
