GrandPad In The News
GrandPad CEO and co-founder Scott Lien discusses the digital tablet’s specialized features to meet the needs of seniors looking for simple apps, heightened security and accessible technology.
This segment originally aired on KTLA Weekend Morning News on Sunday, May 2, 2021.
Big ideas are nothing new in Minnesota. Earl Bakken’s big idea gave us the battery-powered pacemaker. And Betty Crocker—herself a big idea of the General Mills marketing team—had a big idea that gave us shelf-stable cake mix. Truly, without Minnesotans the world wouldn’t have the supercomputer, the pop-up toaster, or Zubaz. And if these 35 ideas, inventions, and innovations are any indication, Minnesota’s not done thinking yet.
Living in a tech-savvy world can be difficult when you didn’t grow up in the computer age. But there’s a new device available to simplify the learning curve. Bingo is one of Florence Meier’s favorite games to play on the GrandPad, a tablet for seniors, but that’s not all she likes. “I can see the pictures and the videos. It’s fun,” said GrandPad user Florence Meier.
You’re not the only one.
The Muscleman of Technology, who also goes by his civilian name, Bruce Pechman, has great Mother’s Day gift ideas for all ages of motherhood.
Under the Digital Equity Initiative established last year by Dr. Sam Page, the executive of St. Louis County, the library vastly expanded its services by starting to issue 1,500 user-friendly GrandPad digital tablets to patrons over the age of 75 for use for a full year.
Now it’s easier than ever to give Mom what she wants: more time with you! With GrandPad, she’ll never miss another moment of family time. The GrandPad is purpose-built to meet the needs and interests of older moms or grandmas who have had limited experience with technology, who have no or limited access to the Internet, and who may have physical or cognitive limitations that make traditional mobile devices difficult to use.
While finding the perfect gift for a parent or a grandparent has been a meticulously challenging task, American tech innovator GrandPad launches its Grand Rewards program to make the task easier - just in time for Mother's Day this year.
At a time when personal contact is more precious than ever, society has turned to technology to stay connected with family and friends. Ironically, despite the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices and social media, many seniors are left behind by technology, causing them to suffer from social isolation and loneliness.
Finding the perfect gift for a parent or grandparent is a notoriously tall task. But with Grand Rewards from GrandPad, family caregivers can hit the trifecta of gift giving for aging parents, grandparents, and other loved ones by giving them a device built just for their needs; making it easy for friends and family to stay connected everyday; and helping them save money with $100 in Grand Rewards. It’s the perfect solution for Mother’s Day gift giving.
The GrandPad 7″ tablet is a device that is designed to help seniors over the age of 75 remain connected with friends and family. The device, which was designed by a father-son team looking to help the family’s matriarch stay connected, aims to take the complication out of technology while providing a user-friendly product and service to older people who may have a hard time adapting to some of the technical aspects of today’s devices.
The St. Louis County Library was busy Sunday distributing 1,500 GrandPad tablets bought with CARES Act funds.
The GrandPad tablet is designed to meet the needs of those over the age of 75 to access technology and stay connected to loved ones during the pandemic.
Up Grandma’s selfie game with the GrandPad, the first tablet computer designed for older seniors. It's perfect for a video-chat with family, using voice email in real time, sharing photos, playing games, making phone calls, go shopping, and more. No confusing buttons, passwords or pop-up ads, and wireless connectivity is built-in.
BuzzFeed editor Kayla Suazo is a huge fan. In her own words, "My family got this for my grandparents who very much do not understand ANYTHING about technology. With this tablet they can video chat us and add pictures to a 'feed' that all of us can see and comment on. It's the only way they talk to us now!"
You need to find the best phone for seniors if you want them to be able to communicate easily, because for how important they are for keeping in contact with loved ones, they can sometimes be a bit confusing for an elderly relative to set up and use.
Because of the relentless pandemic, many people are staying home for Thanksgiving this year. No technology can ever fully replace an in-person holiday gathering. But it is possible to recreate some family traditions online or even learn new skills — like roasting turkey.
Thanksgiving will most certainly look different this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As the epidemic worsens and the number of cases in the United States continue to climb, the CDC is recommending that people only celebrate with those in their immediate household. For many of us, this means that our annual plans - complete with family visiting from out of town, crowded "turkey trots" and conversations around the table - will turn into a much more intimate in-person gathering with some virtual elements.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made happiness more elusive than ever (an impressive feat in a world where so many already struggle with emotional health) and the inability to see loved ones for the holidays feels like a punch in the gut. Grappling with loneliness is never fun, and feeling lonely during the holidays sparks a special kind of sadness.
iPads and apps like Skype are great - until grandma forgets the wifi password, or needs help finding “the Zoom button” amid a crowded sea of apps.
The 2020 holiday shopping season is upon us and technology will be at the top of many gift lists. But when it comes to buying mobile devices or tablets for older loved ones — many of whom may still be experiencing visiting restrictions or facing upcoming holiday celebrations alone — how do families determine which device will best meet their needs and interests?
Were you aware that prolonged loneliness and isolation can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? It can be tough for senior citizens to connect with their kids and grandkids, especially if they live in another state.
A father and son got together and came up with a brilliant idea called the GrandPad so seniors can safely connect with family members without the fear of robocalls or scam artists on the internet.
Isaac Lien had trouble communicating with his grandmother as she got older. She had difficulting using smartphones, which were designed for people who grew up with them. She found them complicated, and the interfaces were confusing.
Ireland’s number 1 resource for science and technology news featured the European launch of GrandPad.
GrandPad’s Chief Gerontologist, Dr. Kerry Burnight, was featured as a Change Agent inside the January/February 2019 edition.
Robert Seigel asks Laurie Orlov about any interesting technologies that caught her eye at the Consumer Electronic Show. Orlov mentions the GrandPad and it's "secure set" of capabilities.
Such an interesting product ... the company has put in an amazing amount of effort to ensure that the tablet works for people over 75.
I'd forgotten all about the GrandPad's Facebook-feed feature and took photos at a recent auto show. My dad called to tell me he liked the pictures I'd taken of the new Bugatti on display, and I suddenly realized he was being included in my day. It was amazing, given how little my dad understands technology, that he enjoyed using this device.
– John Brandon of PCWorld
FOX News talks about GrandPad in their article about Senior citizen-friendly gadgets, calling it a tablet "Designed for family members to include grandparents in the social media conversation" and highlighting the "thorough onboarding process that even includes loading custom music."
The ranks of older and frail adults are growing rapidly in the developed world, raising alarms about how society is going to help them take care of themselves in their own homes ... there was growing evidence that staying connected, even electronically, offsets the cognitive decline associated with aging.
Internet, tablet and smartphone systems such as GrandPad, a simplified tablet for older adults ... are emerging to help with care and staving off isolation.
– John Markoff in The New York Times
Bernadine Winter’s daughter introduced her to a GrandPad. Now Ms. Winter, 85, has weekly video calls with her children and grandchildren, posts photos and listens to country music. She also plays her favorite games, solitaire and blackjack, on the GrandPad.
– Constance Gustke in The New York Times
Put this Lab-tested tech tool on your what-to-buy-for-the-holidays list: GrandPad is a device specially designed to be used by seniors, who often feel left out of our Instagram world. Its simple interface makes it a snap to take and send photos, access music, do video chats, dictate (instead of type) emails and more.
Leadership, brand, and competitive advantage earned GrandPad a spot on the Best Tech Startups list.
GrandPad is the one product on the market that has engineered out all points of frustration for seniors.
A high-tech device for seniors relies on Minnesotans to create a personal connection.
Late-life risk factor, loneliness, can be reduced when aging parents live with their adult children.
GrandPad is a tablet designed just for seniors with a simplified set of 11 apps that use large, clearly labeled icons (for video and voice calls, photos, email, music, games, news, weather and search).
Home Instead Inc. — the international franchise company behind the Home Instead Senior Care network — is joining forces with senior-friendly tablet startup GrandPad in an attempt to reduce client loneliness and improve connectivity.
During these uncertain times, we are leaning on technology to stay connected to each other. For the older population there's a device called the GrandPad to help.
For these working daughters and sons, setting boundaries, employing technology and routines, asking for flexibility (and some forgiveness), and managing well-being will be critical. And while many of these recommendations are similar to what working parents can and should do, others are unique to working sons and daughters.
“We recently had a listener call in that had a dilemma. Jim told us he was 71 and not very Tech Savvy however he was still able to go to the Green Valley Public Library and will an email set up by his grandchild he could email relatives and keep in touch. Jim did not have a Smartphone, nor a Laptop, Desktop or Internet Connection at his home.”
The coronavirus pandemic could sharpen the health risks of loneliness. But there are ways to connect.About a quarter of people over 65 living independently in their communities are considered socially isolated, and 43 percent of those over 60 report feeling lonely — and that was before public health officials instructed older people, and everyone else, to stay home.
The nation’s 3.3 million home health-care workers are the other front-line heroes in the war against the coronavirus. While hospitals’ physicians and nurses tend to the sickest COVID-19 victims, the in-home workforce is caring for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.
People over age 65 are at a higher risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. In many countries, they've been encouraged to stay home as much as possible — even moreso than other age groups.
Prospero Health, a team-based home health care company, has partnered with GrandPad, the first purpose-built tablet for people over 75, to improve access to care for vulnerable seniors during the COVID-19 crisis.
The abrupt shifts in routines, the distance from grown children, and the cancellation of everything from church services to coffee dates can leave seniors feeling lonely, which raises stress levels, impedes sleep, and triggers depression and anxiety.
We take a look at GrandPad, a tablet made for the older senior population that doesn’t have a Smart Phone or Internet Connection at Home.
The Tablet comes equipped with a 4G LTE Connection and has an interface with Larger ICON for the most common task. Users can Send and Receive Email, Photos, Listen to thousands of Included Songs, and visit favorite websites.
Caregivers are truly unsung heroes. As frontline workers, you provide an invaluable service to the elders you care for, as well as to broader society. Just as we are instructed to do in airplane emergencies, put your own mask on first. This refers not only to your literal coronavirus mask, but also the metaphorical mask of self-care, self-forgiveness, recovery and rejuvenation.
The leaders at Prospero Health recently partnered with the leaders at the Orange, California-based GrandPad, a firm that has developed the first purpose-built tablet for people over 75, to improve access to care for vulnerable seniors during the COVID-19 crisis.
Logan chats with Scott Lien, CoFounder and CEO of GrandPad about the Grandpad’s tablet for super seniors and how effective it has been during the COVID -19 crisis. Super seniors, defined as anyone 75 or older, “have the most life experiences, have lived through so much and are the wisest amongst us as a group,” Lien notes. However, he adds, many of the super seniors suffer from physical, cognitive, and mental health issues, and thus have unique needs when it comes to technology. GrandPad developed its product with the advice of a board that included 10 super seniors.
Now more than ever, in the midst of a pandemic, healthcare IT leaders can use a comprehensive listing of companies that make technologies that help keep tabs on patients from afar.
GrandPad, creator of the first purpose-built tablet for people over 75, announced today the addition of connected device capabilities to its mobile device and telehealth platform to support virtual care and remote monitoring for healthcare providers.
Handed super simple technology, more than a 100 seniors in southeast Michigan have swiped their way past one long-held stereotype — chatting online with loved ones, discussing aches and pains with doctors, picking away at crosswords or popping into a casino game.
GrandPad, creator of the first purpose-built tablet for people over 75, announced the addition of connected device capabilities to its mobile device and telehealth platform to support virtual care and remote monitoring for health care providers. The expanded capabilities come at a time when an increasing number of home health agencies and other health care companies are turning to GrandPad to facilitate video visits during COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit in-person care.
Nina Brown, 87, is feisty and always has been. She chats up everyone around her, won't put up with nonsense and is quick to share an opinion or dole out orders. It's why her son Michael, who used to care for her in his home, calls her “the mayor of her facility.”
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Family gatherings on Zoom and FaceTime. Online orders from grocery stores and pharmacies. Telehealth appointments with physicians.
These have been lifesavers for many older adults staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. But an unprecedented shift to virtual interactions has a downside: large numbers of seniors are unable to participate.
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During the pandemic, which has hit older adults especially hard, this divide between technology “haves” and “have-nots” has serious consequences.
Older adults in the “haves” group have more access to virtual social interactions and telehealth services, and more opportunities to secure essential supplies online. Meanwhile, the “have-nots” are at greater risk of social isolation, forgoing medical care and being without food or other necessary items.
Family gatherings on Zoom and FaceTime. Online orders from grocery stores and pharmacies. Telehealth appointments with physicians.
These have been lifesavers for many older adults staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. But an unprecedented shift to virtual interactions has a downside: Large numbers of seniors are unable to participate.
Many older patients are unable to participate in telemedicine, Kaiser Health News (KHN) reported, but solutions are emerging.
One solution is GrandPad, a tablet with apps designed for people 75 and older, KHN noted. These devices have been "remarkably successful" in facilitating video-streamed interactions and allowing nurses and social workers to address patient needs, said Roger Anderson, director of operational support and innovation of the PACE Southeast Michigan program for older adults.
Family gatherings on Zoom and FaceTime. Online orders from grocery stores and pharmacies. Telehealth appointments with physicians.
These have been lifesavers for many older adults staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. But an unprecedented shift to virtual interactions has a downside: Large numbers of seniors are unable to participate.
To stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic, many are following public health official’s recommendations to stay home and practice social distancing whenever possible, but being socially distant doesn’t have to mean being socially disconnected.
As home health care companies, nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics shut down to all but critical care needs when COVID-19 hit, two crises took hold across the country: reduced access to health care services, and increased loneliness.
Both loneliness and COVID-19 have the biggest impact on older adults. Whether living independently at-home, in an assisted living facility, or in a skilled nursing facility, access to care and needed social connection came to a swift and abrupt halt. Family members are prevented from visiting older adults and in-person doctor visits are being put on hold to minimize risk of contracting the virus.
Music is a powerful thing: Not only does it help people of all ages preserve and enjoy memories, but studies have also shown that music can help manage conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and reduce depression and anxiety in older adults.
COVID-19 has put a spotlight on a fragile senior care system, but a vibrant health-tech ecosystem is laying track for a technology revolution that is centered on the homes—just in time for the ‘Silver Tsunami’—of aging baby boomers.
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), GrandPad, and Orange Belgium have partnered to make connectivity more accessible for the elderly to stay socially connected with family, friends, and caregivers. GrandPad creates connected tablets and services for seniors with managed connectivity from the Orange Belgium IoT service, powered by the Ericsson IoT Accelerator platform.
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