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Ask Slashdot: Touchscreen Device For the Elderly?
Lord Byron II writes "My grandma is in her 80s, is bed-ridden, in a nursing home, and is basically reaching the end of her life. Her legs are weak, meaning that she is confined to her bed, and her hearing is pretty much gone. Her sight is good and her mental facilities are still there, but even so, she spends most of her days just watching daytime TV, like the Price is Right and talk shows. The family has tasked me with finding her an easy-to-use, not overly expensive device that would mentally challenge her. Ideally, I would like to get something iPad like so that she could play card games and such. But the Internet connectivity and advanced features are completely unnecessary. Is there a simple device that will let her easily play some games?"
Are you sure a touchscreen is what you really want? Have you ever used a touchscreen to play games? Constantly having your arm at attention and moving your hands around blocks screen real estate is a really big minus most people don't consider. Get her a Nintendo hand held.
"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
I don't think that you'll find many tablet devices without wifi, so I don't know why you're discounting the iPad because of that,.
You should probably consider size as one of the main factors, along with ease of use. A big screen is pretty important when you get far-sighted with age.
Why wouldn't you want your Grandma to be able to access the internet? If she's still got it mentally then easy access to the internet might be good. My mother, in her 70's uses her iPad to access the Internet everyday.
You may think me a tired, old, cynic. I'd have to disagree about the tired bit.
He has a computer (old G5 Mac tower) but rarely uses it now since the iPad can be used virtually anywhere in his home.
It's also reduced the number of "how to" and troubleshooting calls we get from him. For an 83-YO former pastor he does pretty good technically and recently figured out how to properly install the OS/X drivers on his G5 for a scanner/printer on his own.
Short answer: by all means get an iPad. It has the richest set of games and social media connections. My $.02.
The Nintendo DSi XL is comparetively cheap, has awsome games that the elderly love (such as the Professor Layton series) and it was built with old-timers in mind. Big screen, modest colors, large pen-like extra stylus and absolut idiot-proof usage. Get her one plus one or two Layton titles and some other slow or non-action puzzle game. ... Most likely she'll ask for more sooner than you'll expect.
And who knows, maybe she'll also be kicking your sorry ass at MarioCart in 2 months aswell. :-)
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
I don't think any touchscreen device is going to suit your needs. The first poster is quite right. All tablets are designed as internet devices and they don't have much functionality offline. I'd suggest a cheap laptop running Ubuntu. I've set very elderly senior citizens up with this before and they immediately understood it - far better than the alternatives. The selection of casual games is probably the best mix for what you need as well.
Don't underestimate the power of Skype in connecting to family around the world. Ipad does video. Really nice for the grandkids to chat and wave to grandma. Or make contact with long unseen relatives.
My mom has problems with the touch sensitivity. Her hand shakes and often when holding the edges fingers will slip to the touch part causing unwanted actions. Added Iballz and a case and still somewhat problematic.
Try watching something WITH her instead. Or, since her eyesight is still good, playing cards or something else that is not physically demanding, and allows for both mental stimulation and social interaction. There's a reason you see all those old folks playing bridge or bingo or dominoes, and it's not because of the games themselves. (get one of those 12 or 15-pip domino sets and give it a whirl - everyone from 9 to 90 can enjoy it).
Don't let your parent or grandparent rot in a nursing home, abandoned by their own family. This may not apply to the OP, but I bet it applies to some of the people reading this.
This. I bet all the gadgets in the world don't mean nearly as much as a visit from loved ones...
The family has tasked me with finding her an easy-to-use, not overly expensive device that would mentally challenge her. Ideally, I would like to get something iPad like so that she could play card games and such.
Easy to use, inexpensive, mentally challenging example activity being playing card games.
Hmmm... I'm thinking a deck of playing cards. Big cards if her eyesite is poor. Also maybe a big book of card games for extra challenges. Do I win?
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/viewsonic-g-tablet/4505-3126_7-34431221.html?tag=subnav
:T:R:A:N:S:
Internet connectivity would give her access to far more mental stimulation than a few games, plus potential social interaction as well.
...I don't think you should undersell Internet connectivity. Although fortunately I am not confined to bed 24/7, I spend more than half the day there, and Netflix streaming (which would be a wonderful gift you could frurnish her) is a savior; given the paucity of her programming now it would undoubtedly improve her day, and she would have some control over her entertainment choices. That and a twitter client (and set up the family on Twitter -- those that aren't already) and the family can stay engaged with her; an iPad or Android device with WiFi and a camera a can give her even more interactivity over Facetime or Skype.
You have an opportunity here to improve her daily life to an incredible degree, and obviously want to. Were it myself I'd even obtain here a Mi-Fi device and account if there was little or no Wi-Fi were she is living. Were it my own Grandmother I would not by skimping here.
My recommendation would be a wii, which I believe has already been successfully used in a few nursing homes. I think it would be even more successful for individual cases like this.
You should at least have her watch Jeopardy instead of the Price is Right... And yes, the talk shows will make you dumber. She definitely would be better off with Y&R, and General Hospital...
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
The Sony Android Honeycomb tablet. Laid down on a table, its screen is still slightly inclined. It doubles nicely as a remote control (which it is what Sony optimized it for). It's 9" inch screen makes it slightly smaller than the iPad or the Samsung 10.1 Tab, but it weighs less than the iPad and weighs about the same as the Samsung tab (but still feels nicer in your hands than the Tab).
Like most slightly more expensive tablets, it has good haptic feedback. Do not skimp on that, especially for the hard of hearing. And if you do get an Android tablet, do get an Honeycomb one, it's way easier to use than any Android 2.x tablets, and just looks better. Just be sure to read the amazon customer reviews of any tablet you get her. She may not need wifi at her nursing home, but with wifi it will be a lot easier for you or your other relatives to load up new games that she'll like. And expect that you will be doing that frequently, until you figure out their tastes.
Games aren't the only thing that will mentally challenge someone...hell, most iPad games don't.
If you want an inexpensive tablet-format device that will mentally challenge her, get a Kindle or a Nook. They're great for elderly people because they allow the font to be increased for easy viewing. And with the tight integration with Amazon/B&N, she wouldn't have to get out of bed to order new books. The Kindle even has some pretty fun games, though the eInk screen makes the interface crap (Nook might have them to...I don't own one, so I can't say.)
Best of all, it fits in the "cheap" category coming in at roughly 1/5 the price of the cheapest iPad. And it they need charging so infrequently, you could do it whenever you visit so that she doesn't have to worry about doing it herself.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!"
This general question has been a part-time quest of my own. I cared for a loved blind grandmother for several years, and realize my own fragility. There are a lot of agencies out there, and support groups / not-for-profit orgs working on different areas. Many of these are slowly starving because of the economy ( less subsidy, less generous donors) - but still around and happy to help.
In the big picture, just keep in mind that I found help and helpful advise just by reading/trolling on Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers, and other orgs - in addition to the " Senior Services" and various blind orgs. ( props to LightHouse!)
In the short term, if you can afford an iPad, why are you concerned about 'extra' stuff? Believe me, I've been on the neutral-evil side when it comes to Apple fanaticism, but the iPad is in my home. For the set of purposes you laid out, this is probably one of the lightest, easiest to use devices.
Borrow (or buy) one, and some bluetooth devices ( mouse, keyboard, trackball, drawing pad) that can work with it.
-- my purchase came from (USA) Target, with a 45-day no questions refund policy.
(plus a 10% discount for accepting their credit card)
I just mean, if you want something "like the iPad", then get the iPad. Android devices have many similar abilities, (and WebOS devices, too) but few have the quality screen, battery life, and natural resistance to tampering that is genetic to the Apple family.
By all means - get what you can afford, and what is useful - not a dust collector.
And yes.. as other folks have suggested, there is nothing .. **NOTHING** that is more fulfilling, mentally stimulating, and emotionally positive than loved company. The basic stuff like reading a book together, reminiscing, or even learning to use two iPads (or Androids, or tablet PCs) to play scrabble, yahtzee, bingo, or whatever.. as long as you do it together, is a lot more fun and fulfilling.
Plus it will help Grandma learn if she knows you are coming back to play or video chat to see that new baby in the family.
Caveat: get the service contract, and take photos of the serial numbers. Use tracking software. Even in a "good" place, lots of stuff gets misplaced/lost/stolen in retirement/rehab homes. If Grandma does actually like the device, then losing it to a crash or light-fingered help will be depressing.
> #1) Visit with her. Often.
Yes, assuming it's physically possible -- the OP could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Nothing beats in-person interaction. But if her eyesight is still good, then electronic means can be a great substitute. As long as she can see you, that will be enough, even if she can't hear very well.
My grandma lived to 102, and although her hearing started to go in her 80's, she could still read and do crosswords into her late 90's. (She was a huge fan of Wheel Of Fortune.;-) Around 99 or so, macular degeneration took her sight, and only then did she start to deteriorate mentally. With no eyes or ears, she was basically in her own little world, but she would quickly snap into the here-and-now when people came to visit. Still, it was difficult to communicate... difficult to do most things... Around that time she decided she was ready to "go" and switched to hospice care, going off all her meds except pain killers. (She lasted for nearly 3 years after that.)
I wish we'd had iPads back then. I'm sure Grandma would have loved it.
> #6) Get her tied into some of these websites for genaeological research.
Excellent idea!
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it. --AC
How about a bunch of her favorite books? Her eyesight is fine and its interface is one she is familiar with.
If you grandmother is really approaching the end of the journey, should not she be concerned with other things other than playing with an iPad? Like praying and saving her immortal soul? Do you think SJ played with an iPad on his deathbed? Get whatever time is needed off work, get the family together, make sure she get's daily visits from a pastor. The most important thing right now is to make peace with God and family.
US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
. . . it's what's on it. Get Skype or Google Hangout or MSN Messenger or whatever gets her family's faces in front of her, and visa versa. She'd much rather see you than Bob Barker.
The device must have Wifi and you make her a /. account. Trying to figure out what the hell is going on here is a challenge for many nerds; it should do for our beloved grannies as well!
One of the hardest things I ever had to do was explaining to my granny the reasons for the existence and more importantly, the meaning, of the film Alien 2 which she dutifully watched with me during family gathering. Since we are talking about farmer-granny, who worked 12-14 hours a day all her life, was young woman during WW2, had black and white TV until the end and lived 90% of her life under communist regime, it was very challenging for both of us!
Get her any e-reader. Something like a first-gen Nook would be perfect. It would give her lots to read and access to other apps; it's fairly cheap, so it won't be a big deal when it gets stolen (which it will); and the battery life is great.
Why do you decide what's necessary? How about either asking her, or leaving it in and if it isn't used then it isn't used.
It's not like tablets without Internet would be much cheaper. And when you think tablets already, I think the iPad is what you want. You can pick up a 1st gen device fairly cheaply these days. It's easy to use, you can use parental controls to make sure she doesn't mess anything up that would require you coming over to fix it, and there's lots and lots of apps available.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
There are lots of people coming and going in care homes. The elderly are easy prey for "losing" things and are in no position to make accusations. Whatever you get, make sure it's strongly attached to something immovable.
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
Let me break this down:
--easy to use
--not expensive = less than iPad
--iPad-like but not iPad
--no internet
--no "advanced features" (whatever that means)
Nope. Doesn't exist. Closest thing to what you described was the HP Touchpad when it was $99. You can still get a Touchpad for about $200, and if you're really trying to go cheap you can do that, but honestly all tablets are pretty worthless without internet, there's no amount of applications you can put on it that will make up for the fact that there's no internet connection. Does the nursing home not offer wifi for residents? I would think she would love to get on facebook and see how everyone's doing or open Skype and videochat.
So here's the options:
A) ~$200 = HP Touchpad off eBay and install Android because there's very few apps in the webOS market designed for tablets, only a few thousand.
B) iPad
Why: There's other tablets out there, but in the $200-$400 range none offer more than a Touchpad does. Devices under $200 will be small, underpowered, poor battery and might even have hardware issues, you don't want to visit grandma and find out the touchscreen stopped working. Device over $200 don't really offer as much as the Touchpad does until you get to the $400+ range, and if you don't mind spending $400 you might as well just go the iPad route at that point, it'll be the easiest tablet to use in the $400+ price range.
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
Is there a simple device that will let her easily play some games?
Yes, as a matter of fact indeed there is. I believe your grandmother may refer colloquially to this simple but rare device as "grandson with deck of cards."
Now, hang your head in shame you selfish bastard.
The Admin and the Engineer
I'm wondering about the new Kindle Fire. I have no direct exposure to it at all, beyond what I've read and seen on the Innertubes, but if your grandmother has all her mental capabilities, she might enjoy some reading matter as well as puzzles and games. The Kindle would give her access to books and magazines in a format where the print can be made extra-extra large if that is what she needs. I don't have anybody elderly at the moment, although I cared for my Aged Mum. If I did have somebody, I'd be looking closely at the Kindle for them.
(Incidentally, the "grandson with a deck of cards" device referred to in an earlier post also has great potential benefits for both grandmother and grandson.)
"Here's what's happening. You're starting to drive like your Dad..." - Red Green
See: http://www.changemakers.com/node/113512/comments
Have you thought about something voice activated, like Siri on an iPad?
A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.
So here's the options:
A) ~$200 = HP Touchpad off eBay and install Android because there's very few apps in the webOS market designed for tablets, only a few thousand.
B) iPad
Am I the only one who thinks he should get a part-time job for a few weeks to raise the extra $200 to get his dying grandmother something that will make her happy in her last few months of life?
I was very tempted to pepper that with obscenities to a degree that would make Penn Jillette look normal. Jesus Flying Christ on a bike (there).
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Personally, I'd get her some Agatha Christie novels to keep the little grey cells active.
Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
Yes, assuming it's physically possible -- the OP could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Nothing beats in-person interaction.
The FaceTime feature of the iPad would be nice for that kind of situation.
I've had good luck with customers and the Velocity Cruz and Archos tablets. Sure they're not speed demons, but we are talking grandma and he is worried about price. they start at $99 for the 7 inch Cruz but if its for grandma I'd probably look at the 10 inch Archos for $169.
As someone whose grandma passed away this yer I wish you all the luck in the world. We were lucky that mine was a spirited little thing that managed to stay on her feet right up until that last week of her life when she passed right after her 96th birthday.
I learned one thing though...I don't EVER want to live to be THAT old! all your friends are gone, more of the people that you knew are below ground than above, she had even lost one child and one grandchild by the end. Personally I'd rather bite the farm before everybody i know does, thanks.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
Did you think about what you were doing before you posted that? I'm so glad I'm not in the place you seem to be in. Please don't try to take us with you.
My mother suffers from Alzheimer's and some other conditions. She recently spent about a month in a skilled nursing facility, doing physical rehab and strengthening before returning to live with me. About the time she was admitted, I purchased an HP touchpad for her as a gift. I think that the device was great for her, but not in the ways I expected. She used it almost daily. I was able to load it up with a lot of music, which she enjoyed greatly, And the slideshow function also received rave reviews from her.
However, the touchscreen interface (though seeming simple to me), was not ideal. First of all, it proved difficult for her to master the touch interface because of problems applying enough pressure on the screen, or too much. Those of us without arthritis, and who do not have as much difficulty with manual dexterity, perhaps do not always anticipate what a challenge it can be to master the making of gestures to interact with a touch interface. Second, learning the GUI itself proved hard, and her preferred approach became to call me on the telephone to have me make sure that the programs she preferred were running. She was pleased to have music play on on a preset or shuffled playlist, but with a month to try, it did not seem that she managed to master how to select particular songs off of the playlist. Switching between programs was a task on which she would make progress with coaching, but repeating this skill on her own was a real challenge.
I've also let her work with my iPad, and similar difficulties are present.
Your grandmother may do much better, and may not necessarily find it quite such a challenge. But there's also a good possibility that she will find efforts to operate it without the assistance of others, rather frustrating. I recommend spending time together in person, and augmenting that quality time by using the device as a conversation piece, something to talk about and an activity to share together. Perhaps there are other devices that are more suitable, but I do not recommend touchpads generally, except for use as a common activity to enjoy together.
Good old-fashioned books, with pages to turn, on the other hand, are a killer app for all ages. My mom cannot get enough of them. And I personally believe the stimulation is very important for maintaining cognitive function as long as possible.
Hope that helps.
I use the Apple 'SmartCover' with my iPad, sitting in front of me on the hospital-style cantilevered table that adjusts perfectly for height as I recline in the bed. The iPad touch sensitivity is very light and quick; in fact, I have more problems tapping the screen too hard and knocking over the pad when I am using an app in portrait mode needing lots of touch input, and have sometimes turned to my 12South 'Compass' stand for a solid easel-style display (very stabile, I recommend it).
If she is in a home, she only has so much time left. Get her something nice, like a fully featured IPad, and spend a few days with her showing her how to use it. She will appreciate the extra time spent, and her learning to use Facebook, Twitter, and other apps will give her that extra interaction with the lives of others outside of her home that she may be craving. Heck, she might even start getting more visitors if she can get in touch with them more often!
Also, working out the speech to text features for her might be beneficial so she is not spending all of her time hunting and pecking to compose a messages.
But, man, she only has so much time left, so give her a little extra. You may see that Ipad back in your hands sooner than you think. And if not, the bright spot in your life you will make for her will mean that much more as one of her last memories.
She doesn't want a computer. Get the family and any of her remaining friends to visit her more often.
Interview the client.
Does granny want it? If you don't ask her what she wants, you really aren't address *her* needs, are you?
It's common for younger people to project what is "good" and "healthy" onto older persons. Don't. It's demeaning and unrealistic.
Interview your actual client.
- Facebook
- FaceTime
- NetFlix
- iBooks
- Zinio / Newsstand
- Angry Birds
Done.
If not, I'd be interested in seeing this non-touch iphone.
"People don't want to learn linux" hasn't been a valid excuse since '03.
(Sorry- posting here as you had no public email listed.)
'Insulin Potentiation Therapy' is very promising for treating cancer. I researched it for a friend's liver cancer. His doctors did not take it forward, but I saw enough evidence and first hand reports to convince me it wasn't quackery, and that it could help people with even terminal cancer.
I'll send you the information I found if you like. My email is in my account details.
The value if the iPad is in the Apps. Quite simply the iPad has more apps and they're of better quality.
I say iPad.
(disclaimer: i am an Android fan)
I shouldn't explain more, but if you insist:
I think it is perfect for consumers who don't want much choice, but just an experience that works, without much tech-babble or knowhow. Once people understand that they can slide the screen (sometimes) and can touch things, its very intuitive (especially) for anyone not experienced with Personal Computers or Microsoft Windows start menu's.
So in short i say:
consumer = iPad, and
"prosumer" or content creator = Android, and in the future, i foresee
business floor (but not primarily as a communication or offsite device) = Windows8 tablet.
Hivemind harvest in progress..
the best touch screen based system i've seen, designed for ease of use by non-computer users, was the PLATO-IV system.
in 1982.
I own and regularly use a Xoom and at work several colleagues use other Android tablets - some iPads floating around as well. They all have one thing in common and that's the weight that gets uncomfortable after more than a few minutes of use. Most people feel the need to put it down on the table, or rest it on their lap. If someone has poor eyesight and frail arms, I can see this being a real problem - the weight will be even more of a problem, while the need to hold it closer to one's face is greater.
I recently gave my 90+ year old grandmother one of the HP Touchpad's I got from the HP firesale. Much to my surprise, she took to it right away. I set up her email, skype, few games, etc. and supplied her with a dock and bluetooth keyboard. She was even using it in the hospital last week when she was in getting a pacemaker, the nurses were quite impressed apparently.
Am certain an iPad, or Android tablet would be just as suitable, they are all pretty easy to use and if you preconfigure it for them, they'll be all set..