Elderly & Computers

[tbgascorer]

Oh, yeah. It's really sad how difficult this crap makes it for older people. I remember when my mother would call me in a panic (I'd be at work) about how she'd suddenly gotten this message saying there was a virus on her computer, and to "click here to clean it." Or she'd get a screen takeover (when the whole screen turns black, then an ad pops up) and think her computer was broken - she never could remember to look for the "X" to close it - and again, call me in a panic.

Or I'd tell her to click on something and she'd get all hung up on which mouse button to use, or whether or not to hold the button down, or wait until the computer responded, etc.

But it's a real shame that so many of the wonderful things computers bring us aren't available to older people. I have an aunt, for example, 94 years old, who lives alone in a nursing home. She would love to keep in touch with everybody, but even the simplest email systems are just over her head. I wish some programmer would write a REALLY REALLY simple email system just for people like her.

Maybe the tablets are better, but be sure she can see well enough to use that small monitor.

Sorry, this is sort of a raw nerve issue for me.

Yep, it's bad. My dad (mid 70's) never uses his Dell anymore, too many problems and slow. He loves his ipad and no trouble.

[dmk]

Ipad, plus don't they do training/classes at the apple store for free?

[fullsizeaggie]

Ipad and put the apps on it for her that she would use.

[BrandonH]

Up one last time in case there's input other than iPad. It looks like that's the general concensus...I'll have to let my daughter teach her if we go that route since the rest of my family are Android users.

[LakeJake]

IPad is a good idea.

We recently set my wife's grandma up with a new laptop. It took me a few hours to remove all the stuff she won't use, make some large desktop icon shortcuts for email and Google and skype, and walk her through operation. It ended up working great for her. She keeps a cheat sheet next to it, in case she gets confused.

We just looked for a machine with a simple keyboard and large screen.

Sent from my SM-T330NU using Tapatalk

[cosmiccowboy]

Up one last time in case there's input other than iPad. It looks like that's the general concensus...I'll have to let my daughter teach her if we go that route since the rest of my family are Android users.

I have an ipad and a surface and like the surface better. My guess is she would prefer a real keyboard as well.

[BrandonH]

I forgot to mention the screen size isn't that important. At 88 she has near perfect vision.

[dustoffer]

I'm a PC old guy but also have an iPad that I sit in front of the TV with while watching the Cardinals---I hate the on-screen keyboard but I have a stand/keyboard that works for me. Might be prepared for lots of "how do I . . ." Phone calls.

[Tmag]

I would get her an IPad

Yep, the 12.9 inch version would be perfect. Cost around $700.

She will really like it when she figures how to link up to wifi away from home.

[BrandonH]

She will really like it when she figures how to link up to wifi away from home.

Baby steps...I have to get Internet service at her house first[emoji33]

[thearrower]

Apple Product...... My mom is 86 and does well with hers

[Tmag]

Baby steps...I have to get Internet service at her house first[emoji33]

I hear ya. My wife is a a flip phone gal, who uses my iphone to Facebook when we travel. She will not have an iphone. I started her on a Kindle years ago and the charger cord quit working unless you held your mouth just right. I bought her an Ipad and she wanted me to take it back, didn't do it. She carries it with her now on trips and uses my Mifi to stay in touch with the Facebook crowd.
I still have to hook it up to the free wifi where ever we go.

[Wits_End]

Ipad would be easiest - or another tablet with "easy access, big button" mode.

Set it up with only the few apps that she will use. Put all of the rest in a folder, keeps her from getting overwhelmed
Set up each account you think you will use and go ahead and add the family to each.
Add any and all wifi connection you think she will use.

Another idea we had for my grandmother was a wifi picture frame that links to an email account. The family would send photos via email or an app and they would pop up on her picture frame. She absolutely loved it and it made it super easy for us to keep her in the loop with everything the family was doing. It gave us plenty to talk about and do when visiting.
NixPlay.com is the brand we went with.

[BrandonH]

Ipad would be easiest - or another tablet with "easy access, big button" mode.

Set it up with only the few apps that she will use. Put all of the rest in a folder, keeps her from getting overwhelmed
Set up each account you think you will use and go ahead and add the family to each.
Add any and all wifi connection you think she will use.

Another idea we had for my grandmother was a wifi picture frame that links to an email account. The family would send photos via email or an app and they would pop up on her picture frame. She absolutely loved it and it made it super easy for us to keep her in the loop with everything the family was doing. It gave us plenty to talk about and do when visiting.
NixPlay.com is the brand we went with.

Great idea on the pictures.