Supporting an elderly relative

[Dry Rot]

Which is unfortunate if it is someone wanting to speak to you.

If it's that urgent, they will find other ways (message, email, snail mail, etc). My second mobile phone, only 8 months old, has now gone the way of the first and has packed up after very limited use. I doubt whether I made half a dozen calls on it and it was permanently on charge in the house. What stupid useless things they are! I won't get another.

 

[Highland Mule]

and it was permanently on charge in the house.

That’s likely what killed it.

 

[ollie989898]

The beauty of using a computer is that the text can be enlarged at the click of a button. Some us would be snookered if we didn't! Getting older people to use computers is sometimes a matter of showing them how they can find stuff they would be interested in. Then there is typing. If you are not familiar with key boards, just finding the right key can be confusing. But that takes time which nobody has a lot of these days. Trying to use a computer when you don't know how and can't get help can be very frustrating and often not worth bothering with.

You can get programs that will print text on the screen merely by listening to your voice.

 

[ollie989898]

If your locality is anything like around here, there will be a group of folk of a similar age or situation who will pick up and return the man to the pub of an evening. Get him an electric scooter which is road legal?

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Which is unfortunate if it is someone wanting to speak to you.

nope, fortunate I would say,

 

[Dry Rot]

That’s likely what killed it.

I think the battery may have died. But the price of a new one is so high it may be cheaper to get a new phone!

 

[Highland Mule]

I think the battery may have died. But the price of a new one is so high it may be cheaper to get a new phone!

Simple phone shouldn’t cost more than a tenner. Charge it when it’s flat, not all the time.

 

[Dry Rot]

Simple phone shouldn’t cost more than a tenner. Charge it when it’s flat, not all the time.

I've a Doro which is recommended for senile old farts like me. I liked the emergency button on the back, also GPS, and the main reason I bought it as I am regularly working alone with young horses.

 

[Dry Rot]

You can get programs that will print text on the screen merely by listening to your voice.

I probably get less than one call a week -- and that will be a scam! Yes, I know about text phone, but then they'd start phoning me!

 

[MRT]

Which is unfortunate if it is someone wanting to speak to you.

It generally is someone wanting to speak to you when the phone rings... thats why they call like

 

[JWL]

Just because someone is wanting to speak to you doesn't necessarily mean you have to speak to them. Any unknown number isn't answered b me, if it's that important then they'll leave a message, that's what answerphones let people do. For all they know you could be driving, just because they want an instant conversation does it mean that you would drop everything to talk to them?

 

[Red Fred]

This may not be appropriate in a very rural area, but round our way, "Mens' Sheds" are being set up with encouragement from the district council. The idea is to provide friendship and purpose to guys who have found themselves retired or widowed, but want to keep active. We have offered our town group a space in the barn for a workshop although the redundant scout hut seems to be favoured as it is ready to go.
Their activities are purely chosen according to the skills and interests of the members, and an established local group we looked at said they seemed to divide into sections- workshop skills, community projects such as litter picking, mending footpath stiles etc, and a social group who just need a chat and a pint. The aim is to encourage "apprentices" to become involved so that young people can learn trade skills from the older members. The groups seem to be springing up all over and are very fluid in their organization and activities, but I think our town one already has 60 members even though it is only just trying to start up with the current issues. It is worth a google or look at the Mens' Shed facebook page.

Home | Men's Sheds Association | UKMSA

We support Men's Sheds Association in the UK. Men's Sheds are community workshops where men can create converse and connect.

menssheds.org.uk

I should add that there does not seem to be any underlying religious group or similar behind the idea, it is purely a local initiative

 

[Generally01]

Just because someone is wanting to speak to you doesn't necessarily mean you have to speak to them. Any unknown number isn't answered b me, if it's that important then they'll leave a message, that's what answerphones let people do. For all they know you could be driving, just because they want an instant conversation does it mean that you would drop everything to talk to them?

While yar driving use wireless earbuds you pick up the phone without even touching the phone just one button on yar earbuds.

 

[JWL]

While yar driving use wireless earbuds you pick up the phone without even touching the phone just one button on yar earbuds.

As long as you're happy with the distraction then go ahead, life is short enough to spend all of your time on the phone.

 

[SilliamWhale]

"He can't drive and can't use the telephone".
That's the trouble with the youth of today, they don't pay attention.

Get him driving lessons?

 

[ollie989898]

This may not be appropriate in a very rural area, but round our way, "Mens' Sheds" are being set up with encouragement from the district council. The idea is to provide friendship and purpose to guys who have found themselves retired or widowed, but want to keep active. We have offered our town group a space in the barn for a workshop although the redundant scout hut seems to be favoured as it is ready to go.
Their activities are purely chosen according to the skills and interests of the members, and an established local group we looked at said they seemed to divide into sections- workshop skills, community projects such as litter picking, mending footpath stiles etc, and a social group who just need a chat and a pint. The aim is to encourage "apprentices" to become involved so that young people can learn trade skills from the older members. The groups seem to be springing up all over and are very fluid in their organization and activities, but I think our town one already has 60 members even though it is only just trying to start up with the current issues. It is worth a google or look at the Mens' Shed facebook page.

Home | Men's Sheds Association | UKMSA

We support Men's Sheds Association in the UK. Men's Sheds are community workshops where men can create converse and connect.

menssheds.org.uk

I should add that there does not seem to be any underlying religious group or similar behind the idea, it is purely a local initiative

Our GP surgery gets people into this locally but in reality I find it a bit sad that society has come to this.

 

[ollie989898]

Of course, the other alternative is to give elderly parents the grandkids to look after for a bit. Two hours with the le terrroriste (he may as well be French as I sure as fudge don't understand his English) sharpens up anyone's pencil.

 

[Generally01]

As long as you're happy with the distraction then go ahead, life is short enough to spend all of your time on the phone.

What else are going to do on a 2-5 hour drive? talk to yourself?

 

[JWL]

Don't forget your police aren't quite as anal as ours, we have a lot more townie police let loose in the countryside and they have targets to meet. Then there's the simple truth that they're like a fish out of water if there's no streetlights on the side of the road let alone kerbstones to tell them where the road finishes and the verge begins

 

[Generally01]

But if you aren't messing with your phone what can they have against you?