Technology gives Inverness great-great gran new lease of life during lockdown
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A great-great grandmother in Inverness has been given a new lease of life during lockdown, thanks to a bit of high-tech kit.
Violet Nardone (93), from Merkinch in Inverness, was fed up with not being able to see or speak to family while shielding.
Profoundly deaf, until very recently she kept in touch via fax, but the health crisis prompted granddaughter Susan Taylor to get her an iPad as a better, more up-to-date option.
Mrs Taylor (46), from Nairn, said: “While we tried to visit her and would stand in the garden and chat, it wasn’t the same for her. I knew that she was beginning to feel very isolated.
“In the past we have tried to get her to have wi-fi in her home, but she has just refused, saying she didn’t want to have another bill to pay.
“But we came up with the idea of getting her a tablet with a SIM card and it means she does not have to pay another bill.”
She can now accept and make video calls that allow her to communicate using sign language.
And she is even making new friends.
“We got in touch with Deaf Action, who are based in Edinburgh, and they have now introduced my nana to a new friend,” Mrs Taylor said.
“She is a lady in her 60s who is also deaf, so they are getting to know each other. The other day they were showing each other pictures of their family, and it was so good to see my nana so happy.”
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