COVID-19 has kept the doors of LIFE Butler County's center at 231 W. Diamond St. mostly closed to avoid the chance of exposure for its 186 senior-citizen clients.

But isolation was increasing depression and anxiety among those seniors, said Ingrid Tallarico, resident therapy manager for LIFE Butler County, the adult day health center.

Connecting seniors at home via the internet brought its own risk of exposure: to scammers, spammers and con artists.

Clients also would have to contend with navigating the internet and fumbling with charger cords.

Still, she said, the pressure was on to come up with something that would allow clients to socialize even during a pandemic shutdown.

Tallarico said a grant from the Pittsburgh-based George H. Campbell, Lillian S. Campbell and Mary S. Campbell Foundation allowed the center to start a pilot program to bypass all these problems by using a GrandPad.

The GrandPad is a simplified and secure computer tablet that connects older users to family and friends while blocking out unwanted callers, emailers and websites.

The GrandPad has a built-in 4G LT cellular data ability, allowing it to connect to the internet without Wi-Fi.

“It comes with a conductive charging stand that charges it, eliminating the need for cords and trying to plug it in,” Tallarico said.

The GrandPads come preloaded with simple-to-use large, bright buttons.

One connects the user to LIFE Butler County.

“They have us at their fingertips, essentially,” Tallarico said.

Another button allows them to participate in virtual activities set up by the center, such as bingo, travelogues and cognitive games.

“It has a calendar that, when they touch it, automatically enters into Zoom. There's an alarm that sounds 15 minutes before the start of an activity,” she said.

The internet button sends the user to five center-approved websites: Wikipedia, Yahoo News, NPR, AARP and the Mayo Clinic.

The email and phone call buttons are set up to send and receive to only preapproved people. This eliminates the chance of seniors being inundated with spam phone calls and emails.

Other buttons can bring the user the weather, favorite radio stations, games and music.

There's no need for seniors to try to work a keyboard. They can send messages using the GrandPad's voice-to-text feature.

There's even a help button bringing up a customer-service person with answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

GrandPad users even can participate virtually with each other in group Zooms.

Nathan Vogt, director of health care initiatives for GrandPad, said the average age of a GrandPad user is 83.

“We call them super seniors. Our target market is folks over 75 over those with physical or cognitive impairments.”

Vogt said most GrandPads are bought by 45 to 55 year olds for their parents or grandparents.

He added the GrandPad provides seniors with connection without having to deal with Wi-Fi routers, passwords and internet providers.

To keep seniors safe from internet predators, each GrandPad is delivered already loaded with the subscriber's family and friend contacts and websites.

“The GrandPad allows for easy connection to loved ones, family and health providers,” he said. “But it's a closed network. We lock down who they can connect with.”

Tallarico said 20 of the GrandPads were delivered in July to the homes of 20 clients who seemed most anxious and depressed by the COVID-19 lockdown.

So far, she said the feedback from the clients has been positive.

“I think the program has been going great. We've had more engagement, even people who were uncomfortable with engaging in large groups have been engaging in the GrandPad's virtual programs,” Tallarico said.

She added the goal of LIFE Butler County is to get more GrandPads to give to more of its clients in the future.