Is there a product to simplify smart TVs for old people?

[Anonymous]

I tried to set my parents up with a new TV and they found the interface impossible. They couldn't understand the buttons on the remote, they couldn't tell when an icon was being selected on the screen, there were way too many clicks between the home screen and actually watching something they want to watch, and there were ads that they didn't understand were ads. They have simple preferences and if I could pre-set a number of shows they like so they are one click away, that might help.

Is there a product like a Roku specifically designed for old people who don't need a lot of options and can't handle a normal TV? Maybe something that makes the interface more like the olden days of TV where you turn it on and suddenly you are just watching PBS unless you change the channel?

[Anonymous]

Maybe get the fire stick that you can talk into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tried to set my parents up with a new TV and they found the interface impossible. They couldn't understand the buttons on the remote, they couldn't tell when an icon was being selected on the screen, there were way too many clicks between the home screen and actually watching something they want to watch, and there were ads that they didn't understand were ads. They have simple preferences and if I could pre-set a number of shows they like so they are one click away, that might help.

Is there a product like a Roku specifically designed for old people who don't need a lot of options and can't handle a normal TV? Maybe something that makes the interface more like the olden days of TV where you turn it on and suddenly you are just watching PBS unless you change the channel?

That’s called cable. Sign them back up.

[Anonymous]

I got fire stick and Alexa device. My mom is sort of able to use it and she has dementia.

[Anonymous]

Consider having them go back to OTA (Over The Air) television, with an antenna. They won't have the numerous options that cable/internet offers but at least they will be able to use it.

It does them no good to have 100s of channels if they can't figure out how to get to them and wind up with nothing. Better to have a couple of dozen, and at least be able to manage to see what they prefer.

[Anonymous]

A Roku works. Just get the upgraded remote.

Roku Voice Remote Pro, you can use voice commands without the need to push a button or even handle the remote. Simply move the slider located on the side of the remote to 'green' to turn on hands-free voice, keep the remote nearby, and say "Hey Roku..." followed by your voice command.

[Anonymous]

I’m assuming they don’t have cable? If they don’t, I sympathize. I struggle with the same thing for my mom when she visits me. I have smart TVs, YouTubeTV, but no cable. I put a TV in her bedroom and bought an antenna for it, so she can get a fair number of channels over the air, and the TV works like an “old fashioned” one — hit the power button on the remote, change channels.

[Anonymous]

I'd considered upgrading the TV at my parents house. A few months ago I tried to show my mom how to use On Demand. She was confused and had 101 questions. At the moment I knew a Smart TV or streaming wasn't going to work.

Keep it simple as possible, OP. They're usually happy with whatever is on whenever as long as it's predictable.

[Anonymous]

Same issue here. What I ended up doing is writing up an instruction sheet on how to do each task. They otherwise get the TV set in some weird mode and I'm not even sure how. But they are good at following written instructions.

[Anonymous]

DH bought a new tv for his Mom in AS. Set it up. Showed her the remote. Weeks later he traveled the 6 hrs back to visit again. She had been turning it on/off but never mastered changing the channel and didn't want to bother anyone.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who is 90. She has no trouble with cable and also no trouble switching to streaming apps. Occasionally her Apple TV app signs her out for no apparent reason and when that happens I go over and help her sign back in because it's her daughter's account and when she signs in with her daughter's info Apple sends a code to her daughter so we have to get it and enter that and it's just a little more complicated than she feels comfortable doing without help as backup. Other than that, she can handle whatever her Fire TV throws at her.

I will say that if she needs help with stuff she always writes down whatever people tell her in a notebook so she can reference it later if needed.

[Anonymous]

Geek Squad set mine up and showed me how to use it.

Can’t you write a very simple (bullet points) set of directions and tape it to their wall?

[Anonymous]

FWIW my parents couldn't handle written instructions because the minute anything happened outside those instructions they'd be lost. It's cable for them, and I hope comcast never changes their remote again.

[Anonymous]

This isn’t an old people thing. Your parents are just idiots. This shit isn’t hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t an old people thing. Your parents are just idiots. This shit isn’t hard.

Get to bed, junior