no she doesnt. but she will.
it’s complicated; we are going to switch her tracfone to an old iphone we have here - then use that number to project the texting on the big ipad so she can see. All thanks to the accessibility group at apple. fingers crossed!
Hmm… I am considering an iphone upgrade for myself. It would be too hard for Dad to learn to use my old one, but perhaps it could make sense to pair it with an ipad for facetime and maybe even texting like bgbg4us describes.
I have seriously buying Dad a Chromebook when we vist in May, I have one myself, and I think we could find a way to make simple setup to use gmail only. (He already uses gmail at a novice level, but the Windows 10 interface has been driving him nuts).
It occurs to met that we could do a Verzon Chromebook (new device on our plan) … which could possibly enable him to ditch the his Internet service. Thoughts?
https://www.verizon.com/sales/digital/pdp.html?productid=dev10880001&productType=device&skuId=sku3240002
We are still researching this topic. (Our trip to visit NY and delivery new, customized device not for a few more weeks.) @bgbg4us - How is your new setup work going?
not set up yet, but bought an ipad with cell service available (unlocked) and will set up my daughter’s old iphone. probably next month after all the spring busy-ness is over. hoping it works. it will be a learning process though.
Today we went ahead and bought an ipad 10.2 (8th generation) for Dad at Verizon with LTE. (I was already planning to purchase new iphone, and there was a deal that will give me $250 off an ipad device, spread across 2 years… so essentially the $10/month line charge will be offset; if your family has Unlimited data, line charge is $20).
We deferred decision for case/keyboard, but seriously considering a nice logitech option. After initial setup, our biggest concern is that the Facetime audio is not very loud.… even at loudest volume. We may need to get a mini speaker for audio jack. (There are many bluetooth speaker options, but Dad does better with mechanical devices). We do have a hope that he will get new hearing aids soon, and in that case perhaps the hearing aid techs can arrange reliable methods for bluetooth pairing.
oh - good info on the audio and line charges. i need to completely look into transfering her android phone over to iphone soon. I have a few weeks till i set my mom’s up. she is hard of hearing too. she holds up paper signs for my dad like “dinner time” and “telephone” .
I should clarify that Dad does not have an iphone. (His cellphone is some android deal via his senior center.) So the line charge is for an under-the-covers phone number for data-only. (Facetime gets invoked via his Apple id).
Lots of answers here from people who have never used one.
I have bought 2 - one each for my mother and my wife’s mother. Yes it is an expensive monthly charge, but understand it is a 4G device, so it works ~anywhere. It doesn’t require internet and WiFi service which many elders do not have available to them (nor interest in setting up). It is somewhat limited in functionality deliberately to keep it simple. This is a tablet/phone for the luddites or technophobes. If they are comfortable with an iPad and have WiFi use that. If they live alone and need something that just works a GrandPad is hard to beat.
It comes pre-charged and preloaded for use right out of the box. When its first used the GrandPad team will videocall the new user and talk them through usage and how to get hold of them if they need to. They are always available on video-call. In the event of a problem with the device they can’t solve - they will send a new one configured exactly as your current one is - within a few days including return prepaid box for the old one. The service is very good.
You can appoint (multiple) family administrators who can remotely from a PC/Mac/Tablet configure/reconfigure the GrandPad. Even before it even arrives: with contacts, photos, videos, web links etc. You can disable features if you like - like open internet access, and limit it to certain sites if desired.
It is small - but that can be a benefit for weight in use, it is robustly built and charges wirelessly in a cradle (no small plugs to deal with). The user interface is large fonts and easy big buttons, no double pressing and no menus. Only the features you need are there and the user need not/cannot configure the device - it just works. To operate: you open the cover - it turns on, close the cover it turns off. Volume is controlled on screen - big buttons.
Is it like an iPad - only superficially - it is designed for people who would struggle with the complexities of an iPad. Voice calling is loud and clear and video calling is smooth. GrandPad apps on iPhone and Android (and PC and Mac) allow anyone to videocall (or be called). Zoom is also available for family group calls. You can upload pics direct from the apps using any device.
For us it works well for our parents who had no interest in computing, smartphones or tablets or who proved unable to use them reliably, and who had no home WiFi. I was not sure my mother (the luddite) would use it - but it proved easy enough that she got used to it as a simple appliance. She also got rid of her landline phone and uses this instead.
Is it for everyone - No (or at least perhaps not yet), but it is a quite unique offering.
Thank you for your review, I see it can be purchased for $149 with $40 a month from consumer cellular, I think it was more the last time I checked. I think it would be perfect for my 93/94 year old in laws who rarely even use their flip phones. They have children in 5 states and 12 grandchildren in even more.
One thing this brings home to me is how important it is (for me at least) to keep up with technology. I have a friend in her 50s who got an old refurbished iPhone because she didn’t want to learn how to work the 10 and after series. No. Just no. You are young enough to figure it out. If you take stuff in small increments you can keep it up for a long time. My mom is almost 90. She like several of her friend is still cognitively great. But unlike them she kept up with each incremental new tech. She learned flip phones, then iPhones. And when the 10s came out she learned those. She learned texting and then tap backs and how to “ reply” to specific texts. When faced with cognitive decline there’s not much you can do. But fir many of her friends still leading classes in Shakespeare and philosophy ( at a life long learning center) the issue is having “ given up” on tech. I don’t want to do that).
I made myself figure out ride hailing and Venmo even tho I was a bit scared at first.
** I typed this long reply then noticed it’s an older thread. Rather than delete it, I decided to post it anyway. I thought it might help anyone who’s dealing with the challenges of an aging parent.
My mom is 90 and lives in a senior community with WiFi. With Covid she rarely leaves the community, except to walk the outside grounds.
I bought my mom an iPad when Covid hit. She was displaying mild cognitive impairment at the time so I did what someone else mentioned. I moved everything into a file on a different page, except for the FaceTime icon.
I also set up the iPad so there is no password or any other identification needed, The only time that may be an issue is if there is a software update, because it will prompt the user to add a passcode and other stuff. So what I did was turn OFF automatic software updates. Since I have an iPad I can see when there’s a software update so I make sure I run it when I visit her and re-confirm the settings I desire….like no passcode.
Then I placed the iPad on the table next to my mom’s phone and keep it continuously plugged in…it may affect the battery but I don’t care…I prefer not worrying about her having to remember to check the battery charge, etc.
Anyway, I call her on the phone and tell her how to turn the iPad on. All she has to do is press the button by the power cord TWICE….and yes I have the brightness and volume set accordingly so she doesn’t have to mess with it. I always repeat, that the first time she presses the button the iPad lights up and displays the time. The second time the screen should change…and I ask her what she sees. I have it set up that the FaceTime icon (she calls it a green box) appears at the bottom of the screen. Then I tell her I’m going to call her iPad and she’ll see 2 circles…one says accept, the other decline. I tell her to press the one that says accept.
Both of my siblings thought I was absolutely crazy when I purchased the iPad for mom. But it has without a doubt been a wonderful way to keep in contact with her. I even prefer FaceTime to in-person visits at times, because she can see my whole face, since I still wear a mask when I’m with her.
The technology has been a huge blessing since my siblings don’t live close by…and everyone can keep in touch and visit easily. In addition we have a set family FaceTime where we do a group FT with mom for an hour on Sundays. It’s been a wonderful way to stay connected.
I also want to add that unfortunately during Covid, my mom’s cognitive decline has worsened…going from independent living to being designated as assisted living. Yet on the bright side, she can still FaceTime. During the worse part of Covid when meals were delivered to her room and the dining room was closed, we could FT with her and talk/visit as she ate. It was lovely keeping her company so she didn’t feel isolated or abandoned.
Last thing, I also recommend turning off all notifications. It can be confusing and I just check her iPad when I visit in person.
For those doing ipad (or iphone) for facetime, be aware that with ios 16 you can turn on closed captioning.
When my 95 year old dad is wearing his new hearing aids, which are paired to the ipad, his hearing is pretty good. But still some words are hard for him. Looking forward to having a local helper get him updated to ios16 and set up.