Comment on I would maybe like a smart watch, can you help me decide?
alphafalcon@feddit.de 1 month ago
No actual technical solution here, but it smells slightly of XY-Problems.
From what you described it seems the main issues are
- too many calls
- not knowing who’s calling
- not wanting to answer the phone
- not reaching the phone in time
Maybe you could look into solutions like setting a custom ringtone for important callers or having the phone announce caller names so your mother can decide if she wants to make the effort to get her phone.
I’m speculating a bit here but I can imagine that getting up and answering the phone is exhausting for your mother. Also if her mindset is " a ringing phone means it’s important" that could make it even more stressful.
Maybe you could find a way to let her silence all calls except caregivers and ICE contacts. (On Android DND exceptions could work for that)
That way she doesn’t feel pressured to answer the phone every time it rings and stays reachable.
If it’s actually just the physical issue of reaching the phone in time, does she have a convenient way to carry the phone indoors like a lanyard?
Hope some of this helps you
kruffa@beehaw.org 1 month ago
Thanks!
Yes, for sure, it’s a little bit of both.
I will try to configure DND mode for her, but I’m not sure it will be enough, but it is worth a try.
The other problem about carrying it around is more difficult. She doesn’t manage to carry her alarm around using a lanyard (it will be changed to a bracelet, this change is what triggered the idea to get her a wrist-phone too), so I can’t imagine she will carry around her phone either. Maybe with a nice bag? Worth looking into.
Anyway, thanks for the DND suggestion, I will start with that.
MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 1 month ago
This sounds like thinking I had as carer for my mother with dementia/Alzheimer’s. If so, I found introducing new things to be not useful, it will be soon forgotten, (If not, good, and ignore this, but XY-Problem indeed). What I found actually useful was remote video monitoring on my phone (using a few RasPi’s, I’m sure there are better solutions, but I was poor, and it worked) allowing me to go out in necessity. The other thing I wish I’d done earlier is reach out to any and all available support earlier rather than later, it’s a marathon and every edge you can get will allow you to do better for all concerned, not least yourself.
That said, watches with automatic fall monitoring, with SMS alert to you would be useful. Ideally, something like Alexa (but preferably not as privacy invading, still, needs must as the devil drives) or whatever allowing her to just call out “help” and get a call to you on a speaker / microphone is probably achievable now, perhaps someone can chime in, or you can go searching. Best of luck!