“It’s almost like you’re sitting here talking to somebody,” he said.

WCCO spoke to Kronebusch on a new tablet — one of 226 donated to 33 different hospitals and long-term care facilities across Minnesota by the Geller Foundation for Patient Safety. Linda Geller Axelrod is the foundation’s founder.

“We just never thought there was this kind of a need. They now have a way to actually communicate and see someone. It’s a lot different than just talking on the phone,” Geller Axelrod said. “The generosity of people has been incredible.”

Sanford Worthington Medical Center just got 10 of the tablets. Aside from COVID-19 patients, isolated chemo patients and expecting mothers can use them during appointments. Jennifer Weg is the hospital’s executive director.

“We serve a lot of elderly persons, and so they might not have a smartphone. We see it as an important enhancement to their patient care,” Weg said. 

Kronebusch is still learning how to use his new portal to the outside world, as we all are learning how to better communicate in the isolated COVID-19 era.

“I talked to my daughter last Saturday on it,” he said. “She could hear me, but I couldn’t hear her.”

The Geller foundation is still looking for donations. Click here to learn how to help.

To see the original story and read related reporting, follow his link to the WCCO-TV website.  https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/05/25/hundreds-of-isolated-seniors-patients-now-connecting-to-lo...