Technology Question

I bought an amazon echo after visiting my son's family in NC last summer. DH and I stayed in communication via telephone multiple times every day. I tried texting him but he said "the phone was broken" because he struggled to text. We just called instead. My sin recommended an Amazon Echo so he could call me without having to deal with his phone. I decided to try it. DH doesn't use it to call me because he has relearned talking and texting on his cell phone. I love the echo. We play music, get weather reports and ask it all kinds of things. It can add items to a shopping Iist, accessible from my phone, use it as a timer etc. I use it more than he does but when he can no longer use his phone, it will be there as an option. I also looked into a simple phone that has pictures the caregiver programs in and the user just pushes the picture to make a call.

@Kweisser

This is highly unlikely to work for a number of reasons.

Firstly, working and short-term memory are needed to learn new things. Since he's well into the disease process, he isn't going to learn new-to-him tech even if it is simpler.

Also, what memory persists tends to be LIFO. If a person had a flip phone long enough, they might be OK moving from a smart to a Jitterbug or back to a landline.

But the bigger piece is the executive function— i.e. problem solving. It's unlikely he'll recognize he the Echo as a solution to calling you.

It might be a nice way for you to drop in but he may be unnerved by your voice coming out of nowhere and talking to him.

HB

I wish you luck and everyone is different especially with the progression of this awful disease. We tried all sorts of communication equipment but as harshedbuz says you still need short term memory to use even minor equipment and to leave them alone for a period of time isn’t safe or pleasant. At this stage with my DH the only communication he now has is limited speaking with me. I have had to find other outings and activities that we can do together and give up volunteering at the grandchildren’s school tuckshop, kayaking, my market stall and replace them with Sailability, an outlet to sell my bags so I just do the making at home, and the dog park. These all work but you have to be in their moment. Good luck.

I was just thinking and wondering the very same thing. Dang that gizmo really sounds like a wonderful addition.

As long as you are prepared to deal with the disappointment of failure, I think it is worth a try. DW is early stage 6 but she still is able to surprise me with some of the tasks she is able to perform. I think it is harmless to make a minimal financial and emotional investment and then give it a try. If it works, then great; if not, just put it aside and move on.

What I learned over the years was that it was important to recognize when a skill is lost and to stop trying to "teach" it. Also, seeing a skill get lost does not bother me as much as it used to. I don't get frustrated or upset with DW when the disease robs us of another capability. I am able to forget about it, make the necessary adjustments and move on to the next challenge.