At GrandPad we pride ourselves on providing seniors with the tools they need to stay connected with their loved ones. With a convenient tablet by their side, your parents and grandparents will never have to miss another memory.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, we spoke with some of our loyal customers about the unbreakable bonds they’ve forged with their fathers, and how GrandPad has allowed them to maintain that connection. Read on as we catch up with Dolores and learn just how much her father Vernon means to her.
Vernon has lived life to the fullest. He just turned 90 a few weeks ago, and is as lively and thoughtful as ever. One of eight children, Vernon grew up with the backdrop of Southern Indiana farmland, where he and his family learned the value of an honest day’s work. He raised Dolores and her three siblings while lumberjacking and farming to provide for the family.
Later in life, Vernon transitioned into a role as a caretaker, overseeing multiple housing projects for the disabled and the elderly. Retirement brought him to Florida for 25 memorable years before the call of home and the tug of his family brought him back to Indiana last year.
What we didn’t mention about Vernon’s life and accomplishments – he was born deaf, and successfully raised a family and made a living in several careers without the ability to hear. Dolores fondly recalls that growing up, Vernon never let his condition define who he was or limit what he could accomplish. “When I was growing up, I never thought of him as disabled,” she says matter-of-factly.
As children, Dolores and her siblings found ways to communicate with their beloved father and adapted their daily routine accordingly. “It was so natural for us that I have only recently started remembering some of the unique ways we had communicating,” she admits.
“For example, when he was on the tractor on the [farm] and we wanted his attention, we’d wave a white sheet.” She also recounts the morning ritual of getting out of bed with a tinge of laughter. Vernon would flip the light switch at the bottom of the stairs on and off and on and off in rapid succession until Dolores and her siblings would emerge from their rooms and wave down the stairs at him.
Now nestled in Indiana, Vernon’s family is spread out across the country. Dolores lives in Florida, one of her sisters lives in Georgia, and her other siblings live in Indiana. Being hard of hearing and not too familiar with modern technology, Vernon needed something dependable and intuitive to stay in touch with his loved ones far and wide.
Being deaf doesn’t cause any problems for Vernon - with GrandPad, Vernon can easily contact any of his children in just a few clicks of a button and start communicating right away. It’s not just for staying in touch, either. Dolores is quick to point out that Vernon’s favorite activities include “watching television, following the Atlanta Braves, attending church, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and playing games on his GrandPad.”
Dads are known for occasional tough love, but the lessons they impart us shape who we are for a lifetime. This Father’s Day, let your father know how much each moment has meant to you. From all of us, happy Father’s Day.
