We live on 13 acres along with our business. I am caring for 92 yo parents. They have become increasingly dependent on me. Dad doesn't know how to use phone and Mother is beginning to have problems too. Is there some device that is simple for them to contact me while I am at my business about 1,500 feet from our home. Preferably not a 2-way radio, but an intercom of sorts. Any advice would be appreciated.
But there are wireless intercoms that are cheap and simple. If there is electrical wiring between the 2 buildings you can use a plug in type that uses the building wiring. I use the latter between my barn and house. Just google it.
Do you still have a landline in the house? Some landline phones have a speed dial where the person just pushes one number and it automatically dials to your office. The button could have a pink sticker on it which hopefully won't be difficult for your parents to use. Just a thought.
Have you checked the Alzheimer's website? There are all sorts of things for handicapped people, some medicare approved. All you need is something where you can hear if they need you - it doesn't necessarily have to make it so you can have a conversation since you would be running back to the house anyway.
A friend of mine uses the key-car-alarm to alert his wife that she is needed in the house. If her car starts screaming, she starts running. And that is cheap enough too.
They could even wear the key on a necklace of sorts, like the first alert buttons.
I also have an emergency alert from our security company which i actually heave in the bathroom. But although it is not a good idea wearing it was frustrating because it was so easy to set off.
I am looking into a cell phone type devise that has GPS tracking on it. When my hip broke i was on the road and fortunately some one stopped and helped me get up. I was then able (somehow) to take a few steps and get back in the car and drive home
My phone is programed that even if it is on silent, it sounds a siren. You can program it
however you need. The only problem is if she cannot remember the command (we
have it posted on the wall in large print) or if she is too weak to speak loud enough ( i.e. the TV is on). It is a great idea but it still has its limitations.
That is what my grandmother used to call us kids to dinner. The sound travels well. But it will only work if hung outside and you have a window open to hear it.
Another option would be to get walkie-talkies, but I'm not sure if they're still making walkie-talkies anymore since computers and other mobile devices are now the thing. Even CBs have dropped off the radar as computers and other technology replaced them. Some of the old technology is either gone or fading as new technology becomes the norm. If you don't know how to run new technology, your left behind, so you're aging parents better learn something or they're going to be screwed if I don't know how to use a modern cell phone or other modern technology
Too bad you can't find a set of the old growler telephones. They might remember how to use them.