Hearing loss is causing lack of confidence with phone calls

Dear Live Grand:

I suffer from hearing loss due to a history of working in a noisy environment. Thankfully, hearing aids help with face-to-face communication, but they are less useful on the phone. I’ve tried video calls using my cell phone. While seeing the person as they speak is helpful, my memory is unreliable, so I get confused trying to make it work. I’d probably make use of other features on the GrandPad, but my main questions are whether I could use the video call function without confusion and if the device would block scammers. – TO

Dear TO:

We’re glad that you asked this question. Since the GrandPad was developed for older adults, it was natural to consider hearing and vision challenges when designing the tablet. We have a board of “Grand Advisors” who are mostly over 85, and if we’d neglected that feature, they’d have sent us back to work to correct our error!

GrandPads have front-facing speakers with easily adjustable volume and optimized sound. There’s also an optional feature called “real-time text” that allows your family admin to choose the feature that types what people are saying so you could read your callers’ words.

You needn’t worry about confusion when you place or answer video calls. To place a call, you’d simply choose the person from your contacts and tap the Call button. To answer, you’d see their image on your screen and just touch Answer. It’s that easy.

There would be no scam calls to concern you because the only calls that you’d receive are from those whose information has been entered into your Contacts.

GrandPad offers unmatched customer service which is comforting to users. Should you forget how to use a feature or want to ask a question about a function, all you’d need to do is tap the prominent HELP button and your designated human representative would be there to chat with you.

You could safely access YouTube, do general searches, and use Wikipedia all within your Internet app. Your family admin could add additional websites, as well. The Radio app offers great pre-set options featuring talk and music.

Speaking of music, GrandPad’s Music app offers all kinds of choices based on genres like rock, country, and American classics. You’d have the option of building your own Music Collection so you could mix and match as you prefer.

The Games app would allow you to play anything from Bridge to Texas Hold‘em or slots, and there’s a memory game that allows you to choose your level of difficulty. To add to the fun, there are game days and tournaments with prizes.

The Photos app is a favorite with most GrandPad users and if your family enjoys recording videos of family activities, those videos could also be uploaded so that you could share in the fun.

Using a GrandPad could once again make communication safe and enjoyable for you, TO. We think, too, that you’d find that challenging your brain and just having fun are fantastic bonuses.

Live Grand is a weekly column brought to you by GrandPad — the simplest, safest tablet-based solution that helps reconnect families.