For some nursing home residents, the iPad is a window to the world, especially for those who wish to see far-away home towns or countries of origin.

Google Maps, easily accessed on the iPad, enables residents to take a virtual trip home to see satellite images of places where they used to live.

The Interactive Reader app enables users to listen to books, and activity directors have found some of the following apps particularly useful and entertaining for residents:

• Iquarium, which provides users with their very own goldfish;
• ArtLite, for famous paintings;
• Magic Artist, which enables the user to watch the process of photos turning into digital paintings;
• Pocket Pond, a “Zen-like” watery fluid to the touch; and
• iFish Pond, with fish for residents to feed and poke with their fingers.