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Calling on the expertise of folks who have incorporated technology to help with their caregiving duties.


Do you use Alexa or ring technologies in the home of your loved one?


Did you create a new Amazon or Ring account just for them?


If you incorporated it in your existing Amazon/Alexa stuff, how did you organize it?


Are there any cool apps or routines you’ve incorporated for the devices in the home?


I don’t know if what I would do without the ring technologies and the one Alexa device I have at her location. I just don’t think I’ve set it up for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness.


Her ring system is totally her own account. I have full access.


She does not have an Amazon account. I have placed an Amazon device in her home, but it remains in my Amazon account. I’m just not sure I have organized it correctly or efficiently.


Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. She’s actually pretty good about asking ALEXA for a wakeup call in the mornings. Her Alexa also alerts her if her front door is not locked. She just has one unit, located in her bedroom. I had one in the kitchen, but she kept unplugging it.


I had considered an Amazon show, but it seems that it would be bit confusing for her. Technology is not her friend most of the time. She does not use her cell phone. She has a skylight frame, but I’m constantly resetting it, or fixing it because she pushes and punches the screen and disable things by mistake. That is a behavior I cannot control.


Medicine reminder capabilities would be awesome.


She is semi-aware that the technology and is in place and seems to appreciate the benefits it provides. I tell her the biggest benefits are safety and trying to keep her as independent as possible. She has actually helped me adjust camera positioning via phone/camera speaker. It does not freak her out when I pop in on the camera. I don’t do that often. It’s usually when she has left the phone off the hook and I have to tell her to please check it so that people can get in touch with her.

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I am absolutely grateful to Alexa. I don’t have to answer the repeated questions about the day, date and time. You can make phone calls, drop into other rooms, play music, set reminders. Just research it.
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I have an elderly family friend, blind and on the autism spectrum, who loves Alexa (I am not clear who set it up for him in his low-income senior apartment, where, until recently, he didn’t have a caregiver coming in regularly to help him with things). He checks the weather, when the game is on, etc. BUT, he doesn’t seem to have any real cognitive decline at this point.
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Consider the fact that declining elders even forget how to use the remote, not to mention their microwaves... the two pieces of "easy" technology in everyone's home. These are in their long-term memory so I'm always baffled why they lose these skills early. I personally would not introduce anything new to her at this point unless you want to be the Customer Service rep for her Tech Support that she'll call you for every day.
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Using technology is absolutely necessary in our world today. With it, we can order every possible thing we need and never have to go out to buy. We can get a ride using technology, and we can keep in touch with each other from our own homes. We can join clubs, make doctor appointments, talk to our doctor through video chat without going into the office. So many things - and a lot to keep up with.

Penny, your questions are good ones, but what is the situation with your mother? You can set up and run through all the things, but if she has dementia, even the beginning stages, it may not be possible for her to use the devices that would be so helpful.

"I’m constantly resetting it, or fixing it because she pushes and punches the screen and disables things by mistake." And "when she has left the phone off the hook." And "she kept unplugging it." All those statements seem indicative of cognitive issues that won't get better. If that's the case, setting up everything and expecting her to use them would be a waste of time.

IMO, it's time to get honest with yourself and be realistic. She may need more help now than you'll get from technology.
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AlvaDeer Oct 2023
Such good points for our OP to consider. This won't get easier for her Mom to handle. There comes a time.............
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I think it is so great you are able to keep her moving into the 21st century. I am 81 and it took until a few months ago for me to move from my jitterbug flip pone to a "big girl phone" the smartphone3. I am so happy I did as it is twice as easy to use as the jitterbug flip was, and now I can download the apps I need for ride share, airline, and etc. But my daughter who is fairly tech savvy is miles away in another state, and I so wish I was more tech savvy than I am. As Geaton, who answers here often, recently said, we absolutely HAVE to try to keep up with technology.
I am hearing that more and more ALF have technology experts or consierge help, as they call it.
I am seeing a lot of devices on some sites I never imagined, and I just posted in "discussions" about them yesterday; Best of luck and I hope you will update us on anything you find that can help.
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