Amazon, Walmart, donating tablets to Massachusetts nursing homes to keep in touch with loved ones

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Senior Care Association have partnered to supply 730 tablets to nursing home residents across the state to facilitate face-to-face communication with their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AG’s Office and Mass. Senior Care secured donations of tablets from companies including Amazon, Walmart, Teel Technologies, and Acer, as well as a financial contribution from Personable, Inc.

“We know it’s been difficult for families who can’t have in-person contact with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AG Healey. “Interaction with loved ones is incredibly important during this time, so I am grateful we’ve been able to work with Mass. Senior Care and these companies to get hundreds of tablets to nursing home residents so they can stay in touch with family and friends.”

“During this emergency, it is critically important for us to do all we can to keep our residents connected to their families and friends,” said Tara M. Gregorio, President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. “We are extremely grateful to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey for securing 730 donated tablets that will be distributed to our long-term care facilities for the sole purpose of connecting residents to their families who are temporarily restricted from personally visiting their loved ones during this pandemic.”

Mass. Senior Care has already delivered tablets to 160 nursing homes and long-term care facilities and plans to deliver the remaining tablets to cover each of the approximately 350 skilled nursing facilities across the state. These tablets will also allow residents in these facilities to have better access to telehealth.

The following companies donated tablets to this cause:

Amazon: 450 tablets
Walmart: 240 tablets
Acer: 20 tablets
Teel Technologies: 20 tablets
Personable, Inc.: financial contribution

“We’re happy to be able to help seniors in the Commonwealth stay in touch with their loved ones and shorten the distance between people at a stressful time,” said Walmart Director of Public Affairs Chris Buchanan. “Now more than ever, digital communication is playing a crucial role in keeping families and friends connected.”

“We are very glad that we can help by donating Fire 7 tablets to nursing homes throughout Massachusetts,” said Marc Whitten, vice president, Amazon Entertainment Devices and Services. “We hope that these devices will make it easier for residents to connect with loved ones and enjoy entertainment during these unprecedented times.”

“We are happy to support this important effort,” said Bill Teel, founder and president of Teel Technologies. “It is the least we can do to help enable families maintain a connection and bond with loved ones when they cannot do so in-person.”

“It is our great pleasure to have the opportunity to participate in the Attorney General Office’s nursing home tablet donation program,” said Benjamin Chou, President of Personable, Inc. “During this unprecedented difficult time, it is very considerate to not only provide people in need with physical comfort, but also attend to their emotional needs.”

The AG’s Office and Mass. Senior Care are continuing to accept donations of tablets for this cause. If you’d like to donate, please contact the Mass. Senior Care Association at 617-558-0202.