My father had a really bad stroke that left him unable to talk. He can read a little I think. He can’t text or spell words anymore. The nurses have to dial my number because he can’t. So I took him to the store from the nursing home to get out for a little while which I normally do but he went in the store and grabbed a cellphone for me to buy it. I told him I might consider getting it at a later time. He got upset. He also have pointed to the phone pictures on his chart telling me he wants a phone. He’s been expressing for a cellphone for a little while. I had bought him a $200 tablet instead of a phone that I haven’t gave to him yet. I told him I got the tablet over the phone and it seem like he wasn’t happy that it wasn’t a phone because after I told him I got a tablet instead of a phone he hung up on me. I got the tablet so he can video chat with people because no one in my family is going to answer he calls if he calls. They don’t even visit him. They might do the video chat because they can look at him and try to understand what he’s saying. I’m considering taking it back because he doesn’t knows how to work electronics and if he comes up missing I’m out of $200. I normally show up every week and the nurses normally let him call me and I’d talk to him for a few minutes even though I can’t understand what he’s saying it’s just to make him feel good. He needs the nurses help to call me or change the channel on the tv etc. I guess I’m just looking for ideas. Should I just get a cheap phone to make him feel good? Should I just give him the tablet? Is there anything out here that is good for people who can’t talk or text and need assistance?
If it makes sense to you to buy him a cell phone, you can get a pretty inexpensive used Samsung Galaxy 5 on eBay in the $30-65 range. Of course, the monthly service fee with a phone carrier is another story entirely.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=samsung+galaxy+5&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Best of luck!
If you father can say Yes/No, then I suggest you contact consumer cellular and inquire if the 5 star service assistant can prompt your father for yes/nor responses. The phones are inexpensive (around $50, less during sale events) and basic monthly service is $25. If I remember correctly, the 5 star service is about $25 additional. Even if your father doesn't use the phone much, having it may give him some sense of control or normalcy (grown ups have phones).
Are your father's speech problems due to physical issues moving his lips and tongue or has his language center been damaged? When you say he cannot text or spell, I wonder if that's a language center problem that may never improve much or maybe a vision problem. Physical issues can normally be overcome with speech therapy and time to practice/heal.
There are cellphones specially designed for people with visual impairments, and for elders who are technology novices. It might be worth having a look at some of those and seeing if anything fits the bill for your father.
But even supposing he has a gizmo for FaceTime or whatever, will the other family members or friends be able and willing to communicate with him? It is an effort, and if they're not prepared to put in the time or trouble and still don't pick up if they see his number... :(
I think what's good for people who can't talk or text and need assistance is what you're doing - turning up and giving him time.
Is he having any kind of speech therapy? Is he making any gradual progress still, since his stroke?
One more thought, though: if it's your father who's paying, then get him what he wants. And if you can, get a model you can resell for him if he just finds it more frustrating and can't use it.
Daddy learned to speak some afterwards but he mixed up his words often. Sometimes I could figure out what he was saying, sometimes I couldn’t. I do like the idea of pictures, anything that helps is useful.
Yeah, he isn’t familiar with a tablet. He is used to a phone. Not a bad idea to get an inexpensive phone, unless you feel like he could learn how to navigate using the tablet. Also, would the nursing staff help him use it?
You sound like a caring and loving son. I hope you find a solution soon. What does your father’s doctor say about his future?
Best wishes to you and your dad. Take care.