Northern Michigan University student Allie Johnson, left, and Katie Torreano, an asset management assistant at NMU, bring laptops to Norlite Nursing Center on Thursday. The university donated the devices to help Norlite residents connect with their loved ones and take part in online activities. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — If ever a place deserves a good deed, it’s Norlite Nursing Center.

The facility, located at 701 Homestead St. in Marquette, has been the site of an outbreak of COVID-19, with eight deaths recorded. However, 47 residents still live at the facility, and they undoubtedly want a way to make connections with the outside world.

Northern Michigan University donated and delivered 24 laptops to Norlite on Thursday afternoon to make these connections possible.

“Connectivity is a very important thing in these days with lack of visitation mandated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” Norlite Administrator Wayne Johnson said before the laptops were delivered. “We have to find alternative methods for getting our residents access to see their families, to participate in events, to participate in activities within the facility, and by Northern donating these laptops, it’s a significant step toward getting us the technology that we need to make this happen.”

However, can the elderly residents easily learn how to use a laptop?

“Certainly, our resident population doesn’t have a lot of computer experience, so there’s been a learning curve a bit, but it’s been fun, and actually it’s been exciting for our residents,” Johnson said. “Their reaction has been sort of one of like anybody who’s learning things for the first time.”

Some residents, he noted, are tech-savvy, but for the residents who had to learn the new skill, now they have the opportunity to connect with, say, a granddaughter who essentially has been “born with a phone in their hands.”

“It just opens up worlds of possibilities, and they’re excited about that,” Johnson said.

In fact, he said Synergy Fitness, based in Marquette, already donated tablets, plus Norlite purchased about a dozen Kindle Fire tablets.

“We’re trying to think of outside the box of how to get everybody access to the technology that we need,” Johnson said.

With the recent donation of laptops, he said now there is almost one device per resident.

Norlite typically has about 75 residents, but admissions were halted during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in late March, he said.

However, technology still might be a necessity.

“I don’t know if we’ll need more as our census grows — very possibly — but we’re all learning together,” Johnson said.

NMU Chief Marketing Officer Derek Hall, who was on hand at Norlite on Thursday, said the university has been involved in a laptop program for over 20 years, with all students issued laptops.

The computers donated to Norlite, he said, were just returned from students.

“They’ve been refurbished and prepared for this donation,” Hall said.

Norlite reached out to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and her office put the facility in contact with Northern, he said.

“This made sense, and it’s something that we can do quite easily,” Hall said. “We’re happy to provide these machines. They’re well-running machines, and they’re ready to go, and we’re excited to help residents here at Norlite.”

Chris Lewis, NMU director of Technology Support Services, said in an NMU news release that the computers were X1 Carbon ThinkPads.

“We realize Norlite has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the need to self-isolate for health reasons can be very difficult for some residents,” Lewis said. “Our notebook computer program put us in a position to help them enjoy critical social engagement with others online, when face-to-face interaction isn’t possible.”

Norlite Activities Director Amy Fraley said in the release that before the pandemic, residents could participate in 19 to 21 group activities daily. Since the crisis hit, though, they have been confined to their rooms, and residents without technology were not able to converse with others via Skype or Zoom, or participate in online activities.

“The devices donated today will enhance the quality of life for our residents and give them the ability to communicate with the ones they love and participate in the group activities they enjoy,” Fraley said.