One year ago, 81-year-old Meadow Springs resident Lily Deverill was only able to speak to her son living in Norway once a week over the phone.
However, she is now able to see him every week, play Scrabble every day and talk to her granddaughter whenever she wants to from her own living room without paying a cent.
All thanks to a small white iPad she carries around in a shinny red case.
She decided to go 2.0 a year ago, after her Silver Chain carer Rose encouraged her to get an iPad.
“I told my son that I wanted an iPad for my 80th birthday and he bought me this,” the smiley 81-year-old said.
“I can talk to my son, my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter.
“He showed me the house he lives in in Norway, and the garden and what he has been doing.
“I don’t even have to take a holiday.”
After getting the device, Ms Deverill also became a member of Mandurah’s Seniors and Community Centre, where she attended classes on how to use her iPad.
Now, she spends most of her time surfing the net, taking photos of her luscious garden with the device’s camera and sending emails to her relatives.
“I never have a dull moment in the house now,” she said.
“I take photos, send emails with photos, Wordfeud, Scrabble, look at maps, and even look at the news, Facetime and Youtube.
“Oh my goodness, Youtube is wonderful.”
Ms Deverill said she has’t looked back since, and is now encouraging other seniors to embrace the digital age.
“Being in my 80s, to be able to learn to use the iPad and to be able to connect me with my son in Norway this is something which I never expected to be able to do,” she said.
“It’s wonderful and you can’t beat that.
“I would certainly encourage and recommend anyone who is interested to go ahead, not to look back.”
Silver Chain assists more than 94,000 people to remain living in their homes and community every year, encouraging seniors to live an active, independent and connected life.
In addition to in-home care, Silver Chain also helps clients pursue their ambitions and goals, may it be using an iPad or learning new skills.
The Mandurah Seniors and Community Centre provides activities, classes and support services for senior residents in the region.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm.