Press Release
St. Louis County Library is providing another round of GrandPad tablets to help underserved older adults access technology and stay connected to loved ones. Older adults who live in St. Louis County can apply to receive a GrandPad tablet for one year starting June 22 through July 13. Applications are available at www.slcl.org/grandpad.
GrandPad tablets are intended for use by individuals over the age of 65. The devices come preloaded with software and built-in 4G LTE service that allows users to access email, make phone calls, participate in video calls, take, send and receive photos, and access information over the internet.
Eligible seniors must have a St. Louis County Library card and be a resident of St. Louis County. More information and the online application are available at www.slcl.org/grandpad. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13.
The tablets were purchased using American Rescue Plan Act funding; the program is part of the Digital Equity Initiative established by St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page in 2020.
“The GrandPads have proven to be a valuable connection to resources for our older residents,” said County Executive Dr. Sam Page. “I appreciate the Council allocating these funds so that we can expand this popular program.”
GrandPads are easy to use and were designed for use by people with little or no technology experience. A built-in data connection is included free with every GrandPad, giving users secure access to the internet. There is no home internet connection required, no data contracts required, and no additional fees involved.
“We are so grateful to the County Council for supporting older adults in the region and for expanding access to those that need it,” Kristen Sorth, St. Louis County Library Director & CEO said. “Recently I received a handwritten note from a patron that said she equates her GrandPad with ‘winning the lottery.’ She wrote, ‘It has literally changed my life for the better!’”
SLCL launched the GrandPad program in March 2021. The initial 1,500 GrandPad tablets were purchased using federal CARES Act Funds. In March 2022, St. Louis County allocated $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to continue the GrandPad tablet program with $1 million dedicated to pay for an additional year of the 1,500 GrandPads currently in use by County residents, and $1 million used to purchase an additional 1,500 GrandPads for older adult residents.
The program has been extremely popular. To date, users have logged over 280,000 hours of use on the tablets and have made over 4,800 zoom calls. The Library has received many touching testimonials from users, including this one: “I wanted to say thank you, you saved my life. I picked up my GrandPad yesterday and I love it. I’ve been on it all night. I want to say thank you, you did a blessed thing for seniors citizens. Because this will entertain you and keep you from being sad and lonely. They set it up so beautifully. It’s so easy for people like me, illiterate when it comes to gadgets. Most gadgets are confusing for me. But this is beautiful, and I just wanted to tell someone at the library, thank you!”
For more information:
To learn more about the GrandPad tablets available from St. Louis County Library, please visit www.slcl.org/grandpad or call 314-994-3300. Media inquiries should be directed to Jennifer McBride, Manager of Communications, 314-994-3300 ext 2250 or jmcbride@slcl.org.
About GrandPad:
Media contact: Brittany Karlin, 630-272-4587 or brittanyk@thebrandamp.com
Based in Orange, CA, GrandPad is a digital health company that develops engagement solutions to improve the health and well-being of older adults by reconnecting them to families, friends, and caregivers through technology that is safe, reliable, and easy to use. The GrandPad purpose-built tablet for people over the age of 75 -- the first mobile device of its kind -- addresses usability, security, and connectivity issues that are often roadblocks for integrating remote monitoring and telehealth into professional and familial caregiving settings. The company's secure cloud platform with built-in LTE and web applications allows care teams and family members to engage remotely with older adults without depending on WiFi connectivity. GrandPad enables a variety of interactions, including video calls, sharing essential care-related emails and messages, and conducting multi-party video care conferences between family members and a patient’s continuum of caregivers. For professional caregivers, GrandPad offers connected device capabilities that support enhanced telehealth and remote monitoring services provided by a growing number of in-home healthcare organizations. To learn more, visit GrandPad.net or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter @grandpad_social.