Alexa for elders (or similar)

[Anonymous]

Has anyone set up Alexa and parents are able to use it?
My parents don't have a smartphone but they do have a wifi tablet.
They need some sort of "panic button" and medicine reminder and I'm thinking voice activated might work. I live nearby.

Can they do the following if I (can figure out how to) set it up?

"Alexa, text Mary"
"Alexa, I'm taking my heart medicine now"
"Alexa, did I take my heart medicine today?"

Thanks for any ideas!

[Anonymous]

I can’t answer your questions but the first thing is, they have to remember to call it by the right name! My dad keeps calling Alexa “Siri” which puts us all into hysterics because it’s reminiscent of the SNL skit about old people and Alexa (Google it for a good laugh)

[Anonymous]

I have an echo show for my parent, it’s an absolute life saver. I set up daily reminders 3x a day for medications, he listens to radio or watches programs all day with it, uses it for weather, he makes grocery lists on it for me, and he uses it to call me and other people. I have the Alexa app on my phone, so I can receive calls and even to a remote video “drop in” if I’m worried about him. He asks Alexa what day it is, every 10 minutes, it’s hilarious.
There is also some paid add ons, called Alexa assist, but I don’t use those. If he falls and can’t get up, he yells out “Alexa call so-and-so” and it’s helpful.
Mind you, he forgets the name and often yells at Alexa. “Alice what day is it”
“Anne what day is it” “ Alison what day is it”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone set up Alexa and parents are able to use it?
My parents don't have a smartphone but they do have a wifi tablet.
They need some sort of "panic button" and medicine reminder and I'm thinking voice activated might work. I live nearby.

Can they do the following if I (can figure out how to) set it up?

"Alexa, text Mary"
"Alexa, I'm taking my heart medicine now"
"Alexa, did I take my heart medicine today?"

Thanks for any ideas!

Yes, you can set up all those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an echo show for my parent, it’s an absolute life saver. I set up daily reminders 3x a day for medications, he listens to radio or watches programs all day with it, uses it for weather, he makes grocery lists on it for me, and he uses it to call me and other people. I have the Alexa app on my phone, so I can receive calls and even to a remote video “drop in” if I’m worried about him. He asks Alexa what day it is, every 10 minutes, it’s hilarious.
There is also some paid add ons, called Alexa assist, but I don’t use those. If he falls and can’t get up, he yells out “Alexa call so-and-so” and it’s helpful.
Mind you, he forgets the name and often yells at Alexa. “Alice what day is it”
“Anne what day is it” “ Alison what day is it”

Alessandra. Turn the heat up. The room is already 100 degrees.

[Anonymous]

OP: YOU MUST Watch this SNL skit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvT_gqs5ETk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an echo show for my parent, it’s an absolute life saver. I set up daily reminders 3x a day for medications, he listens to radio or watches programs all day with it, uses it for weather, he makes grocery lists on it for me, and he uses it to call me and other people. I have the Alexa app on my phone, so I can receive calls and even to a remote video “drop in” if I’m worried about him. He asks Alexa what day it is, every 10 minutes, it’s hilarious.
There is also some paid add ons, called Alexa assist, but I don’t use those. If he falls and can’t get up, he yells out “Alexa call so-and-so” and it’s helpful.
Mind you, he forgets the name and often yells at Alexa. “Alice what day is it”
“Anne what day is it” “ Alison what day is it”

My neighbor yells "Wife's name, what time is it"....loudly and gets mad when Alexa doesn't answer....just like the SNL skit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an echo show for my parent, it’s an absolute life saver. I set up daily reminders 3x a day for medications, he listens to radio or watches programs all day with it, uses it for weather, he makes grocery lists on it for me, and he uses it to call me and other people. I have the Alexa app on my phone, so I can receive calls and even to a remote video “drop in” if I’m worried about him. He asks Alexa what day it is, every 10 minutes, it’s hilarious.
There is also some paid add ons, called Alexa assist, but I don’t use those. If he falls and can’t get up, he yells out “Alexa call so-and-so” and it’s helpful.
Mind you, he forgets the name and often yells at Alexa. “Alice what day is it”
“Anne what day is it” “ Alison what day is it”

Alessandra. Turn the heat up. The room is already 100 degrees.

Seriously. I just left their house and it’s 83 and humid outside. They had the heat set to 80.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can set all of that up on Alexa and have it tied to the app on your phone.

My 98yo grandmother has one and it's set up on my aunt's phone. My grandma has Alexa turn the lights off/on, tell her the weather, set reminders and alarms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much everyone. I am looking at the echos on Amazon right now. Had no idea I could have an app on my phone so this is helpful. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to smart home tech!

The snl skit is EPIC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t answer your questions but the first thing is, they have to remember to call it by the right name! My dad keeps calling Alexa “Siri” which puts us all into hysterics because it’s reminiscent of the SNL skit about old people and Alexa (Google it for a good laugh)

The first thing I thought of was that SNL skit too!

[Anonymous]

It's going to depend on your parents. My dad had dementia and was already too far gone to understand talking to a voice assistant. My mom just doesn't think to use it.

The only reason I keep the service is because I have it set up for emergency assistance so if she calls for help it will call my brother. I think there might even be a senior-specific subscription service but we were fine with just this.