Try out a device before you buy if you can. Our local library has tablets with books loaded on them that you can borrow like a book. They are various sizes and vary in sophistication. While they aren't the latest thing on the market, it would give you an idea if it would even work for your mom.
Brenda....I'm late to the party here, you've gotten some great advice and, sounds like you've decided to look at other options. I say, good for you. My Mom (now 94, moderate dementia, happy in a lovely ALF) was always into "the cutting edge".....at 79 she got her first PC. She was a writer (wrote for local paper into her late 80's, wrote and published books)....she moved easily from typewriter to PC, loved sending and replying to emails, did research online, etc. At 88 she was diagnosed w/MCI BUT at 91 she was still using email enthusiatically (now she had WiFi and a mobile laptop, too!), soooo....I thought it would be great to get her a nice small lightweight tablet for Mother's Day....I bought her a B&N Nook......welllllll.....either I was naieve, in denial, or simply unaware of how much my so smart and savvy always Mom's cognitive skills had slipped: I literally spent hours on the phone and online w/Mom, and even a B&N rep.....just trying to get the tablet "set up".....no dice. Next time I visited Mom she was in hospital, then rehab for a bad fall and break. I stayed in her condo. Found the Nook in it's original box.....figured, well, someone ought to get some use out of this.....so....here I am typing this note on the handy little lightweight tablet that Mom could no longer figure out (FF....totally hear you!).....sad but true, but thinking anyone w/alz/dementia can figure out a tablet is most likely not a good long range option. Today, my brilliant, accomplished, forward-thinking Mom cannot use a phone or TV remote....BUT, as much as this distresses me, it seems not to distress her in the least, or, for that matter, even be on her radar screen. She's generally happy and content and I am currently thrilled w/that state of affairs.
Going for jello now, and outside for the first time at 5:10p.m. Brenda, hoping you find something nice for your mom. I use a kindle, but it is touch-screen. Supervised use would be one answer. We do want our seniors to use the internet safely. Imop.
Glad, Leo LaPorte, twitlive.tv is one of many tech experts who has guests that can answer any tech questions you have. However, they know nothing about caregiving, or what is recommended for someone dealinv wth dementia. Leo does have an aging mother who needed computed advice, though. Can find twitlive anx others on youtube also. Give me my remote, or give me t.v.
Roku has a huge downside. Since I have already watched what was offered (Bones, Downton Abbey, Blue Bloods, The Goodwife, etc.) almost a year ago, there is nothing new to watch on Netflix. There is hardly anything (that I have available) that is live. Roku costs $ 35-99 one time. Cable costs $120/mo + here. Get what you can afford.
FF. I believe the Roku box is a substitute for cable. You can download or stream various movies, but you don't have the benefit of the range of programs cable offers, like 500 sports channels and no opera channels. Who could possibly want Roku selections when you can have so many sports channels and spend your entire day watching sports?
I think Chromebook is just another brand of computer.
Send, who the heck is Leo LaPorte? Today I bought a BOSE system to replace two that I lost in the fire, and how many cd's is anybody's guess. So, this system, I hope will make it easier. It came in a smallish box, 18"x10"x15" or so. It will play cd's and am/fm radio (very important for me) and will connect wirelessly to the internet to stream from any number of services. This will be very interesting!
I am a technology idiot, I know enough to get me in trouble. This system should teach me some new tricks, though.
Sorry Ff. My contribution was passed on from in-house expert who watches Leo LaPorte daily on twitlive t.v. The real experts are there. My husband owns an Acer Chromebook, which I believe is an inexpensive laptop. He is against giving computer advice to a forum for caregivers, as this info is readily available online under the heading technology. Since I am not tech savvy, barely literate, I depend on him to hook-up the internet, and roku box. When it freezes or crashes, then it is all him, not me. My neighbors survive by getting cable, and the cable guy is there almost monthly. Think, what did we do before this all became so hard? Lincoln read by candlelight?
We had an iPad that I loaded some favorite movies on for Mom. The problem we had was that she kept touching the screen so we would need to restart the movies over and over and over. Very frustrating for everybody.
I would try a smart tv instead, you set it up for her to watch, and no problem with inadverent screen touches.
I would like to thank all of your for your answers to my questions. They were all very helpful. I think I will look for something else. The fact my mom has never been computer savvy.
What were her skills and interest when she was younger and/or working? I've found that the life time interests are the ones which remain longer while the techno-gadgets not only can be confusing, they don't fall into the category of necessary things, especially if the elder has had Depression Era experience.
What I'd do is get her a much less expensive android tablet and see how she fared. I have an IPad. It was $400, I think. The others? Some advertise for $100. If they'll download from the Google Playstore? I don't see the difference. Go to Best Buy. See what they have to say.
Brenda, does your Mom still use a desk top computer? If so, then yes get her an iPad. If not, it would be just a waste of money and very frustrating for her to learn.
I am pushing 70 years old, still have a clear mind [most of the time] and I don't even have an iPad nor a Smartphone or an Xbox. I am from the KISS generation.... Keep It Simple :)
Windy, my Dad was also quite the computer hacker, he use to write code for his own software, but all that stopped within the past few years. Now Dad can barely get into his email without messing up the passwords :(
New learning is not possible with dementia. Now if you gave her a 1940's radio with knobs that turn, she might remember that quite well. Same with cell phones; mom never got the hang of it. We got her a 1970's vintage telephone and she could handle that just fine.
It may be more than she can handle. My parents are mid 80s dad has dementia but moms mind is still good but I can't even see her navigating on a tablet much less dad who can hardly use a cell phone. My dad was quite the elder computer hacker till about 5 years ago. We finally cancelled the wireless service because he can't even log on now.
If your mom is still with it digitally there are things for elders out there. You'll get some ideas from others here but just do some googling and you'll find lots of stuff. I looked around awhile back but couldn't find anything my folks could handle.
Brenda, hoping you find something nice for your mom.
I use a kindle, but it is touch-screen.
Supervised use would be one answer. We do want our seniors to use the internet safely. Imop.
Leo does have an aging mother who needed computed advice, though.
Can find twitlive anx others on youtube also. Give me my remote, or give me t.v.
Get what you can afford.
I think Chromebook is just another brand of computer.
I am a technology idiot, I know enough to get me in trouble. This system should teach me some new tricks, though.
Think, what did we do before this all became so hard? Lincoln read by candlelight?
I would try a smart tv instead, you set it up for her to watch, and no problem with inadverent screen touches.
I am pushing 70 years old, still have a clear mind [most of the time] and I don't even have an iPad nor a Smartphone or an Xbox. I am from the KISS generation.... Keep It Simple :)
Windy, my Dad was also quite the computer hacker, he use to write code for his own software, but all that stopped within the past few years. Now Dad can barely get into his email without messing up the passwords :(
If your mom is still with it digitally there are things for elders out there. You'll get some ideas from others here but just do some googling and you'll find lots of stuff. I looked around awhile back but couldn't find anything my folks could handle.