Communication

[Junie2]

Hi

My Mum is partially sighted. She is also wheelchair bound and is in a care home.

She struggles with technology, she has a doro phone which I set up for her to answer automatically. Is there anything I can get so she can see me. It would have to be automatic, and hopefully not cost a lot.

I was thinking of a large screen phone or phablet?

It would help us all so much if we can see her every day.

Hope someone can help please

Many thanks

Junie

[springcross]

Hi Junie. Unless someone else comes on here with any suggestions, the only thing I can think of is the internet for a phablet. You could try the RNIB website and any vision aid companies. Good luck.

[Junie2 in reply to springcross]

Hi Springcross

It has been suggested an iPad with cellular.

They are expensive. Will keep looking

Thanks so much for your reply

Junie

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear Junie,

Please email our new Connect by Tech service for support:

macularsociety.org/news/new...

Kind regards,

Macular Society

Advice and Information Service

0300 3030 111

[Junie2 in reply to Rosalyn-helpline]

Hi Rosalyn

I have emailed them.

Thanks so so much

Junie

[Hidden]

It's not a huge screen 5"x2.5" and needs WiFi Internet but the Amazon Alexa Echo Show will let you "video call" each other (you both need one, it has to be the Show model). We got ours off Amazon so my hubby who's registered blind and his daughters can keep in touch easily. He's managed to work it ok.

It's not automatic but responds to voice commands.

You programme tel numbers in, giving them a Name and ask it to call the name and it uses voip to connect so doesn't need a telephone line and the calls are free. It will call anyone, they don't need Alexa, only if you want to see them. We use it to order takeaways lol and anywhere you know you'll be on hold a long time eg gp as it's hands free.

It will also give her 'someone' to interact with, ask the time, weather etc and you can play amazon audible books through it and ask it to play music radio etc. Hubby has his earphone headset bluetoothed to it.

You do have to download an app and manage some of the setup from there which I found a bit confusing at first but now it's fine and I'm glad we got them. Someone in the care home will likely know how to set it up for her.

The American version does a few more things than the UK one ( eg UK doesn't have the "show and tell" facility yet but they tell me it's coming).

You can easily switch the camera and/or microphone off if you don't like the idea of it invading your privacy (but then voice commands/ vid call won't work so remember to switch back on).

[Junie2 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Eyesright

Will look into it, I have to find something that I can set up to auto answer for her, then send it to the home, they are not great with technology, and they don’t have enough staff to sit with her.

Thanks for your help

Junie