I am trying to find ways to remotely engage my mother, living alone. Does anyone know if a voice assistant that connects Mom to family news exists, or if it will even work?
Your profile says your mother is 98 years old. Has she been using any newer technology to this point? A few years ago my son gave me an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot which I set up in my kitchen. Back then my mom would come to my house often to help me do things and cook (she lives next door). When she remembered she could talk to Alexa, she often did start by saying "Alexa" and then if she did manage to do that, she would talk to it too conversationally, so that Alexa couldn't comprehend what she wanted. She was in her late 80's and only has a flip phone and Verizon tablet that she only plays games on.
I'm not sure what you mean by "connects Mom to family news"... do you mean like a FaceBook page?
I have read 1 post on this forum by someone who set up a monitor in their LOs place (NH I think) and could control the access from start to finish so that their LO didn't have to do anything to start or end the live session. So I think it is possible but not sure how tech savvy one must be.
If you find a solution, please come back to your post and make an update so others can benefit from what you learn. Your question gets asked often enough on this forum.
Would she "talk" to the device? I know my Husband would not have talked to "it" even prior to the dementia. And as the dementia progressed he talked even less and became non verbal. Sure there are games that can be played. She can ask what the temperature is outside. She can make a list of things she needs. And whoever does her shopping will know what to get. I do not have one. Will not get one. My daughter has several and when I go for dinner they will ask Alexa to "play Jeopardy" and most of the time it goes without a problem but often the device does not understand what is said, or somehow the answer gets screwed up and even if we say the right answer it says it is was wrong. So for me it can be frustrating. I honestly think it depends on how your mom will receive the device and if she wants to use it. Each person is different and the openness to technology is different. You might want to check with the local Senior Group in her area. One by me sets Seniors up with other Seniors to make calls to check in, chat and see how things are going. The calls could be short or long it depends on who feels like chatting. I am a bit confused...I looked at your profile to see what issues mom has. You say mom is living alone in your question but in your profile mom is in a Nursing Home. You mention mom has dementia. Depending on the dementia she may or may not be able to use Alexa and if she can use it this week there is a good possibility that next week or next month she might not be able to. And a real good possibility that in a Nursing Home it will not last long in her room. You could ask about hiring a companion that could come in 1 or 2 times a week for an hour or so and chat with her, play card, do art. The Nursing Home may have someone that does that already. If mom is living alone and has dementia she should not be living alone and should have caregivers with her 24/7.
I'm not sure what you mean by "connects Mom to family news"... do you mean like a FaceBook page?
I have read 1 post on this forum by someone who set up a monitor in their LOs place (NH I think) and could control the access from start to finish so that their LO didn't have to do anything to start or end the live session. So I think it is possible but not sure how tech savvy one must be.
If you find a solution, please come back to your post and make an update so others can benefit from what you learn. Your question gets asked often enough on this forum.
I know my Husband would not have talked to "it" even prior to the dementia. And as the dementia progressed he talked even less and became non verbal.
Sure there are games that can be played.
She can ask what the temperature is outside.
She can make a list of things she needs. And whoever does her shopping will know what to get.
I do not have one. Will not get one. My daughter has several and when I go for dinner they will ask Alexa to "play Jeopardy" and most of the time it goes without a problem but often the device does not understand what is said, or somehow the answer gets screwed up and even if we say the right answer it says it is was wrong. So for me it can be frustrating.
I honestly think it depends on how your mom will receive the device and if she wants to use it. Each person is different and the openness to technology is different.
You might want to check with the local Senior Group in her area. One by me sets Seniors up with other Seniors to make calls to check in, chat and see how things are going. The calls could be short or long it depends on who feels like chatting.
I am a bit confused...I looked at your profile to see what issues mom has.
You say mom is living alone in your question but in your profile mom is in a Nursing Home. You mention mom has dementia. Depending on the dementia she may or may not be able to use Alexa and if she can use it this week there is a good possibility that next week or next month she might not be able to. And a real good possibility that in a Nursing Home it will not last long in her room.
You could ask about hiring a companion that could come in 1 or 2 times a week for an hour or so and chat with her, play card, do art. The Nursing Home may have someone that does that already.
If mom is living alone and has dementia she should not be living alone and should have caregivers with her 24/7.