Idea for dementia

[Rec]

Just bought my mum a device from Myhomehelper.co.uk. Have had trouble getting her to answer the phone, or if she does she forgets to hang up after a call. The device is a 10" screen which has easy to read clock, can be set with reminders, send visible Text messages and most importantly, autoconnect video calls with anyone on their "call list". After the call it hangs up too so there are no buttons for her to accidentally press. Quite pricey but peace of mind for family and, now she has got used to us suddenly "appearing", she seems very happy with it.
Just an idea for anyone in similar position.

 

[TJBi]

Just bought my mum a device from Myhomehelper.co.uk. Have had trouble getting her to answer the phone, or if she does she forgets to hang up after a call. The device is a 10" screen which has easy to read clock, can be set with reminders, send visible Text messages and most importantly, autoconnect video calls with anyone on their "call list". After the call it hangs up too so there are no buttons for her to accidentally press. Quite pricey but peace of mind for family and, now she has got used to us suddenly "appearing", she seems very happy with it.
Just an idea for anyone in similar position.

Yes, a very useful device and lots of configuration options, though one or two may not be entirely intuitive for the person setting it up..
I had one for my late mother and subsequently passed it on to someone else who was starting to experience the same issues.
The earlier it can be supplied to the person beginning to suffer from dementia, the easier it is for them to appreciate some of the features.
I had just started going down the route of other smart devices prior to my mother's death: lights configured to turn on around dusk, smart plug to turn the TV off if left on overnight, cameras in a couple of rooms in case of falls and inability to summon assistance...

 

[trevskoda]

Just bought my mum a device from Myhomehelper.co.uk. Have had trouble getting her to answer the phone, or if she does she forgets to hang up after a call. The device is a 10" screen which has easy to read clock, can be set with reminders, send visible Text messages and most importantly, autoconnect video calls with anyone on their "call list". After the call it hangs up too so there are no buttons for her to accidentally press. Quite pricey but peace of mind for family and, now she has got used to us suddenly "appearing", she seems very happy with it.
Just an idea for anyone in similar position.

How is anyone who cannot work a simple ph tv or a m wave oven work that.

 

[TJBi]

How is anyone who cannot work a simple ph tv or a m wave oven work that.

As Rec indicated, they don't have to. Someone else configures it and updates it as required. It's an excellent device. Have a look at the website that Rec indicated before making such comments.

 

[Rec]

Yes, a very useful device and lots of configuration options, though one or two may not be entirely intuitive for the person setting it up..
I had one for my late mother and subsequently passed it on to someone else who was starting to experience the same issues.
The earlier it can be supplied to the person beginning to suffer from dementia, the easier it is for them to appreciate some of the features.
I had just started going down the route of other smart devices prior to my mother's death: lights configured to turn on around dusk, smart plug to turn the TV off if left on overnight, cameras in a couple of rooms in case of falls and inability to summon assistance...

Luckily mum is in supported housing so has carers onsite and an emergency call system. But this means we can talk to her without any problems. We are still working on reminders etc, but just to have a daily reminder programmed in will be so useful when we are away. Can be programmed from wherever I am so currently adding reminders (ie what to eat for supper...prevents her eating out of date food, I do her shopping and know when her snacks are dated!) Also has a good size screen with day date and time.

 

[TJBi]

Luckily mum is in supported housing so has carers onsite and an emergency call system. But this means we can talk to her without any problems. We are still working on reminders etc, but just to have a daily reminder programmed in will be so useful when we are away. Can be programmed from wherever I am so currently adding reminders (ie what to eat for supper...prevents her eating out of date food, I do her shopping and know when her snacks are dated!) Also has a good size screen with day date and time.

Yes, reminders to drink water, etc. always useful! And great to be able to set up a slideshow of photos of friends, family, memorable places/occasions...

 

[Rec]

Not sure about the slideshow, as mum can't seem to understand the concept of video call so may think the pictures are people calling her? Thinking about that one!

 

[Rumour]

Just bought my mum a device from Myhomehelper.co.uk. Have had trouble getting her to answer the phone, or if she does she forgets to hang up after a call. The device is a 10" screen which has easy to read clock, can be set with reminders, send visible Text messages and most importantly, autoconnect video calls with anyone on their "call list". After the call it hangs up too so there are no buttons for her to accidentally press. Quite pricey but peace of mind for family and, now she has got used to us suddenly "appearing", she seems very happy with it.
Just an idea for anyone in similar position.

Is this another subscription based scheme? We bought a call blocker for mother and father in law, both had dementia. It was OK for a while and then required a subscription (after the first year, even though it didn't connect to anything other than our phone system and their subscription server.) They supplied nothing after original purchase. I have it here now and it sits in a box!

 

[TJBi]

Is this another subscription based scheme? We bought a call blocker for mother and father in law, both had dementia. It was OK for a while and then required a subscription (after the first year, even though it didn't connect to anything other than our phone system and their subscription server.) They supplied nothing after original purchase. I have it here now and it sits in a box!

Yes. It relies on their server to function. Excellent system.

 

[Rec]

Hi
Yes you pay £199 for first year then £99 annually after that. More if paid monthly. We compared it with a Callgenie which doesn't require a device as it uses your own TV. That cost £489 as one off payment. But required a smart TV also..which mum hadn't gota recent enough model. Seemed better value overall to buy the device.

 

[trevskoda]

Thats all ok if the person can work a ph, wifes mother gets confused and many times forgets to hang up, we have to drive down and sort out, at this stage she does not understand about a bank pension card and hands it to shop keepers along with money, not easy sorting things here and just of the ph to doctor who does not want to know.

 

[Rec]

Trev, read my description of the device!
It shuts off automatically when caller finishes. This was also a problem for mum, especially when she was using the TV remote to end call! There are now no buttons for her to use and the landline phone is there but she doesn't make calls now as she knows we call her.
We have POA and mum doesn't go out and spend money any more luckily. She has cash in the flat she can use, but rarely does.

 

[trevskoda]

Trev, read my description of the device!
It shuts off automatically when caller finishes. This was also a problem for mum, especially when she was using the TV remote to end call! There are now no buttons for her to use and the landline phone is there but she doesn't make calls now as she knows we call her.
We have POA and mum doesn't go out and spend money any more luckily. She has cash in the flat she can use, but rarely does.

Yes we may now have to take control of card and monies, one of the big problems is she like her husband pull plugs out and turn everything of not being used to electric or any understanding of it, ta for the post.

 

[Rec]

Yes we may now have to take control of card and monies, one of the big problems is she like her husband pull plugs out and turn everything of not being used to electric or any understanding of it, ta for the post.

There is always something they do which we don't think of, isn't there! We did "lose" mums debit card when she was getting very confused with it. Worst was when she managed to get online (not a problem now) and individually order from Amazon three very expensive shavers. She sent them to my aunt who died several years ago! Managed to get a refund for one, stopped delivery of the other, but last one was, I think, kept by person at the address as it never got returned. We changed her password for Amazon so she couldn't get in, which happened so often anyway that she eventually gave up