My dad has moderate dementia, and cannot operate his TV remote by himself. He is living in a good home, but he doesn't have someone who can change the channel for him or turn it on and off. Is there any sort of TV system that would allow me to control his TV over the internet? Anyone else have this issues?
I bought the TEK remote for my Dad (the button blocker is WAY too small. Daddy is legally blind) and ended up super gluing a textured button to the CHANNEL UP button and told him to only use that one.
That helps some, but he has a habit of falling asleep with the remote in his hand which he drops and the batteries fall out meaning it needs to be reprogrammed).
The whole digital TV thing is a HUGE thorn in my side, especially when it comes to seniors. Dad's AL offers about 40 channels BUT the cable company makes them use a cable box. It's really hard to get a senior with dementia (or without it for that matter) to understand that you must activate the TV AND the cable box to get the channels to change.
I miss the days of a cable going directly from the TV to the wall and having one remote to control everything.
My semi solution is to tell Dad to NEVER turn off his TV. When his remote "breaks" (meaning the programming has gotten messed up again), he's forced to watch the same channel until I can come by to fix it. The AL staff hasn't learned to program the large TEK remote. Instead, they will pull out the small remote that controls the cable box. I can barely see the buttons on that one.
Sometimes I think technology forgets about seniors (My Dad can't see a Jitterbug cell phone to save his life...)
Mom used to have control of the remote so I am not to surprised he doesn't know how to use it.
buttonblocker
I wonder if the downfall of more people not being as healthy all started with the invention of the remote control and the Lazyboy recliners :P
I see that I posted upthread in July 2014 about a basic remote that my cousin could use. Sadly, it didn't last long. She soon forgot about turning on a tv. It's not something that interest her anymore. I do hate that, because she used to enjoy her tv so much. Now, it doesn't capture her attention for more than 10 seconds.
It's a removable remote control, that covers the useless buttons on the remote, simplifying it by exposing only the most basic and frequent buttons (power, volume, guide). It's interesting in that it does not need to be programmed, and it fits right on the cable remote control. And it's hard to lose if it's the glow in the dark model. Worth taking a look into.
I did find an article that says 50% of households use both landline and cellphones, so there is still a large market for landlines. And those of us lucky enough to have Verizon FiOS cable, we can continue to use landlines.
Pretty sure hardwire is on it's way out .... see article below. I've also read this on other news sources. The enhanced 911 is going to have to change somehow. It's the sign of the times. I don't particularly like it, just saying. :)
online.wsj/news/articles/SB10001424052702304834704579403090132882148
I am about to do that too, to limit the TV time. He CAN do stuff but just chooses to sit with the darn thing on 16 hours a day and it is LOUD. I spent a fortune last year buying the headphones and he is very resistant to that. It is very annoying in a two bedroom home when I want to sleep and have to wait for the stupid ballgame (always extra innings) to go off.
I was thinking, if one's parents are mobile, thus can easily get in and out of a chair and walk to the TV, most newer TV's still have the old fashioned buttons on the bottom front or on the side of the flat screen.... only problem is that on some TV models the buttons blend in with the frame. My Sony has the buttons on the side, and they are large... On/Off, Volume, and Channels.
I will never give up my land-line, I had to call 911 a couple of weeks ago, and the dispatcher had my exact address, all I needed to do was verify it. This is great incase someone has a stroke and can still dial 911 via a land-line but cannot tell the dispatcher where they live.
I write it down for mum but its getting harder!
Apparently in 2012, PC World didn't think these products were yet ready for the average person. I have not found any similar reviews that are more recent. My nephew made it look easy.
And it's coming your way if it hasn't already. Same with telephone. Pretty soon, new customer will not be able to get hard wired phones. I'd Google this for people who are saying to get an antenna, but I'm way too tired today.
Books on tape aren't really all that good because most people my mom's age can't hear. Plus she doesn't like books, period. She has never read an entire book in her life. I have subscribed to large print New York Times for her (it's the only one that offers large print 'news' although that's debateable :) ) and Reader's Digest Large Print (she sits there and pretends to read it)
An antenna would be impossible as I live in a condo.
And people in my mother's age group still believe that tv is 'new' and great invention for some reason.
I just have to bite the bullet, walk into the den where she watches three programs each day, i.e., The Price Is Right, The Chew, and Katie (which has been in reruns since March but she just doesn't believe me)
You made me feel better about her not being able to just push the red button!
Thank you for at least making me feel a bit better today that my mother can't operate the remote. In fact, I'd hazard a guess that she never could operate the remote and they've been around for thirty years or so!