Instant messaging system

Chook

Registered User
Jun 14, 2013
238
0
Westcountry
Hello there

Just got off the phone from mum and it seems she's not eaten any of the meals in her fridge for 3 days and she passed out in Sainsburys (she's always been a fainter).

I was thinking it would be really good if mum had a screen in her house which I could send messages to and remote control from my end. Why hasn't anyone invented this? With all the technology these days does it not seem like a good idea? My husband is very clever with IT and I'm sure he could make one. Anyone else think it's a good idea, or know if there's one out there already? I heard that someone had invented a robot but don't know if it's readily available.

In the meantime I think she needs a carer going in once a day to help her. Poor mum, it's so sad seeing her lose these abilities :(

Chook
xx

p.s. Oh my goodness, just found this about the robot, it looks terrifying! lol! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23191371
 

nitram

Registered User
Apr 6, 2011
30,076
0
Bury
"...I was thinking it would be really good if mum had a screen in her house which I could send messages to and remote control from my end. Why hasn't anyone invented this?..."

Because it doesn't need inventing, just use any of the free remote management systems eg https://secure.logmein.com/
 

CeliaW

Registered User
Jan 29, 2009
5,643
0
Hampshire
Hello Chook - yes there are remote desktop controls and you could maybe use that or adapt from this? http://www.internetbuttons.org/

It depends on what level of understanding your Mum has and if she would be able to click on the screen to open it when it goes to sleep if you don't want to leave the screen as always on.

If you would like to pm me for any other ideas on how to do it then please do but as you say your hubby is internet savvy you are unlikely to need that.

The internet buttons are great for all people who aren't confident in using computers and for those who find navigating their way around a bit difficult.

Maybe its something that should go in the Resource Section...

Good luck

Celia
 

Chook

Registered User
Jun 14, 2013
238
0
Westcountry
Thanks for your replies. I was just thinking of a screen that she didn't need to turn on or even touch. I would just be a screen on the wall which would alert her to things she needs to do, such as make herself some dinner. I could also send messages that could tell her that the gas man is coming today for example. I suppose a bit like an online calendar but only for information. Does that make sense?

Mum isn't computer literate and wouldn't even turn a computer on but if it alerted her should could cope with it. I love the internetbuttons website and I think would've been brilliant for her 7 years ago but now it's too much for her to cope with. Even a tablet with an app on would probably be too much.
 

Chook

Registered User
Jun 14, 2013
238
0
Westcountry
Oh and mum is terrified of the God of Fire! And turns everything off at the wall (not a dementia thing, just a mum thing). Should couldn't cope with having a computer on all the time, it would totally freak her out but if it was just a screen on the wall that acted a bit like her big clock that would be okay I think.

Link to her big clock in case you're wondering what I'm talking about!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Precision-P...?ie=UTF8&qid=1376821682&sr=8-5&keywords=clock
 

Chook

Registered User
Jun 14, 2013
238
0
Westcountry
Thanks Celia, that's interesting. I'll look into that. Would mean the tv would have to be on all day but better than nothing!
 

nmintueo

Registered User
Jun 28, 2011
844
0
UK
My husband is very clever with IT and I'm sure he could make one. Anyone else think it's a good idea, or know if there's one out there already?

Yes, for some people I think it could be a good idea, though you'd need cognitive function to be good enough for someone to be responsive to reminders appearing on the screen, and that may or may not be the case. And if the communication is one-way, you have no immediate feedback on how effective it is.

There are some apps and services that you can already use, as some posters have already mentioned, and here's another one: http://www.mindings.com/.

Maybe an alternative would be to remind her by phone. For quite some time, my sister managed to keep our mum taking her medication by doing that. The trick there is that she can take the pills while still on the phone; otherwise, she'd likely forget as soon as the call was finished. Might not work so well with a meal.

A possibility that occurs to me as well is that you could set up a computer with Skype or some other video-chat system for two-way communication; I think you can configure it to auto-answer so your mum wouldn't have to touch anything. (If she tends to tamper with things, then the problem is to set things up in a way that prevents accidentally disabling it). I would like that because then you can see for yourself what she is doing.

Some more-or-less related previous threads:

Designing a product to aid dementia sufferers lifestyle
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?54019

Research on products for dementia sufferers
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?53081

Using technology
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?47993

An app to help people cope with dementia
http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?46162
 
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