GrandPad Inc., the developer of computer tablets for seniors, says it is experiencing record-setting engagement and demand amid the pandemic.
The Orange-based company, whose tablets come preloaded with apps to connect seniors with loved ones, or simply for entertainment purposes, reported about 305,000 active users in 50 countries as of June 2019.
Now, the company says it has amassed 800,000 active users, which includes not only seniors, but family members and caregivers as well, according to Chief Executive Scott Lien.
Since March, the GrandPad has also been used to conduct more than 56,000 telehealth visits with seniors who have been isolated in their homes due to COVID-19.
The company has recorded 1.7 million video visits on GrandPad in the last 90 days.
GrandPad doesn’t disclose sales, though Lien said the company continues to see a growth rate of more than 30% quarter-over-quarter.
“Now more than ever, staying connected with family and friends is important, but it’s critical for seniors who can’t travel or visit with loved ones,” Lien told the Business Journal.
“We’ve been mindful to keep the GrandPad simple and easy to use, and we’ve designed complimentary products for delivering remote care.
It has added a handful of related devices to its product mix of late, including a watch that monitors sleep and steps, a body weight scale, and a device that tracks blood pressure, pulse oximetry, body temperature, heart rate and respiration.
“This positions us for partnership opportunities, which have accelerated amid the pandemic,” he said.
New Connections
More growth, via partnerships with healthcare providers in need of remote monitoring options, is in store for the company, which moved into the business-to-business segment last year.
Last week, the 6-year-old company announced 12 strategic partnerships with in-home living facilities and specialty clinics, including Kaiser Permanente and the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine.
“When it comes to engaging older adults, not all devices are created equal,” Lien said in a statement.
“Seniors interact with technology in different ways and have different cognitive and physical limitations. GrandPad is custom designed to address these issues and to engage seniors on a personal and social level, so they look forward to using the device on a daily basis.
“This is important because the more seniors engage with technology they trust, the more likely they are to use it for telehealth visits with doctors or daily check-ins with caregivers.”
GrandPad Advantage
Head of Innovation Isaac Lien, son of CEO Scott Lien, came up with the idea for GrandPad during his time at Chapman University.
The idea came to Isaac in the midst of difficulties of having real-time communications with a grandmother in the Midwest.
The 8-inch wireless GrandPad device features large buttons for email, photos, and other straightforward functions.
It costs $10 per month for 20 months or $200 up front, with a $40 monthly subscription plan. That includes unlimited data use, streaming music and video calling, among other features.
The tablet is manufactured by Taiwan-based PC giant Acer Inc., which in 2016 became an investor in the company.
The tablet “removes physical barriers” such as a lack of internet access that could prevent users from seeking assistance, according to CEO Lien.
Its typical users are “seniors 75 and over who have little to no experience with technology,” though the GrandPad has also proven to be very useful “for those with limited vision, hearing and motor skills,” the company said.
In addition to the tablet itself, the company offers customer support services and monitoring devices for medical uses.
The company works with retailer TechSilver, a developer of senior-friendly products such as GPS watches and fall detection devices, to provide access to its product in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
GrandPad was a Business Journal Family-Owned Business award winner in 2019.
Partners in Health
Newly announced healthcare partners include Memphis, Tennessee-based Prospero Health; Welbe Health LLC in Menlo Park; Providence PACE; and numerous PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) providers.
PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides care for older adults at least 55 years old. These individuals receive nursing homecare and are considered higher risk of complications from COVID-19.
GrandPad recently became the preferred telehealth provider for the National PACE Association, which provides medical services to 54,000 individuals at 263 locations in 31 states.
“GrandPad created a device that aligns so perfectly with the mission and goals of the PACE organization that they might as well have developed it specifically with PACE in mind,” Beth Schultz, director of operations at Providence PACE said at the time of the announcement.
“It has become an essential part of the way we operate.”
Prior to the endorsement, GrandPad worked with several PACE organizations to provide medical services and social activities such as virtual bingo, worship services and yoga classes.
In addition, partner PACE Southeast Michigan revealed its users register an average of 2,000 button taps a week, though some “superusers” register as many as 40,000 taps a week.
In 2019, GrandPad began its remote care model in partnership with Home Instead Inc., an Omaha, Neb.-based homecare franchiser that has a “significant” minority investment in the company.
