Husband wonders if GrandPad is only for people with memory loss

Dear Live Grand:

I’m wondering if this tablet is just for people with memory loss or confusion. My wife, 83, is a retired English professor who enjoys crossword puzzles, word searches, or nearly any other word-related game. Unfortunately, her eyesight is failing. She can read large print novels and she has reference books to use for the crosswords, but they are bulky and limited in scope. She hates using computers and thinks that regular tablets are worse, but there’s nothing wrong with her memory or ability to learn. So, if a GrandPad is just for people with dementia, it’s not what we’re looking for. Thank you for clarifying. – DK

Dear DK:

What a great question! It sounds as if you’re doing everything possible to help your wife address the challenges of her failing eyesight which includes writing to us.

While the GrandPad provides an invaluable asset for people who have cognitive challenges, individuals can make choices depending on their needs and interests. We believe that a GrandPad would greatly enhance your wife’s ability to continue doing what she loves.

She’ll enjoy the basics because the screen is uncluttered and the app icons are large, uniquely colored, and they stay in the same order for easy navigation.

Not only could she have ready access to large print crossword puzzles, but she’d also be able to enjoy word scramble and memory games. Our Lookup app would provide instant access to a dictionary and encyclopedia, both of which return search results in the tablet’s default large, clear print.

If she hasn’t yet tried Sudoku, this would be the ideal way to introduce it. Solitaire and bridge are also offered if she likes card games.

GrandPad’s Internet app is safe and easy to use so the two of you could discuss the websites that she’d enjoy and then add only those to her tablet’s Internet app.

For reading, she could download large print books from the Internet or order them from her public library by adding their website to her safe access choices. She can also listen to classics read by professionals by choosing YouTube.

Your wife could browse and read articles online by adjusting the text size. That alone would make the world more accessible to her. The toolbox offers quick access to a magnifier, a calculator, and a flashlight.

Since most people enjoy music, GrandPad provides access to a broad selection from classical to rock to country. She could even set her choice of music to play in the background while she does crosswords or plays games.

Naturally, she’d have easy access to video chats with family and friends, as well. Emails are easy to read and in return, she could send voice emails rather than typing them out.

As you see, DK, while the GrandPad has abundant features to make the tablet safe and fun for people with cognitive challenges, it’s also a superb assistant for someone like your wife who is trying to enjoy life with poor eyesight. Thanks for writing!

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