Elderly parents and mobile phones - getting them to use or at least call

Jagraf

My MIL is 80 and we bought her a mobile phone when my FIL died last year.

We don't have a landline that we use (except that Sky call us on it). So, MIL has to ring our mobiles, there is no other choice. She phones from home or on her mobile if she is out.

She calls my OH at 9am every morning to say she's OK. He doesn't answer as he is at work, she knows is but it makes sense that we know she is ok, and that she's knows we know she is ok.

He phones her back during the evening, every day, for a few minutes.

She can now text too. Some of her texts take an hour, but she does it. They make for hilarious reading. She regularly calls us thinking we are the taxi company too. Very funny.

She takes it everywhere now and it has become her security.

margaretclare

[quote=[Deleted User];68444110]That's just the thing they wont listen. Listen to what I say, listen to a few simple requests and everyone's happy.[/QUOTE]

Once again, I must point out that 'they' i.e. older people i.e. the like of DH and me, are not all alike.

Paul, I recall some of the hassle your Dad has being giving you over some considerable time. Who's laundering his dirty boxers nowadays?

GwylimT

I have our house phone on divert so I receive the call when my grandma rings if no one answers the house phone, I also call her everyday at 6:30 as she often wont call to tell me about any problems.

carefullycautious

I have not read all the way through but have you considered a 'Lifeline' service


He wears a neck alarm button that goes through to person who will check if he needs help and will contact you if an emergency.


Check with his local authority who will have their own set up.

Hermoine

Only if they actually wear them. My elderly aunt says hers is 'always nearby', which isn't going to be much use if she falls over.....

margaretclare

DH used his mobile last year when he fell over in the garden and attempted to dislodge a tree root with his head. He called me to come and bring a plastic garden chair so he could lever himself up again. We both keep our mobiles in our pockets at all times.

When we go out we use the BT 'Call Divert' service which is extremely useful. Calls get diverted from home to DH's mobile. We've had calls all over the place, crossing the North Sea, you name it.

Reading these latest posts, there was I thinking I was behind the times because I haven't got to grips with a smartphone, what every toddler can do. Although DH and I are 'elderly' we've used mobile phones for years. DH used to use the very first ones, when they were huge, on business.

Mobile phones can be, and have been, a life-saver in the past. Having a 'Lifeline' service would be pointless. It would only work if we were at home and, a lot of the time, we're not. Going on holiday a week from now.

suejb2

Can you divert calls made to your landline onto your mobile? I know a few people mainly tradesmen that when you call them at home it goes to their mobile. Your dad still calls you at home but you answer your mobile. Win...Win

mumps

I was a child when my dad died, my husband was a baby when his dad died. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to have had a grown up conversation with my dad, to have seen him on my wedding day, to see him hold his grandchildren. My children never knew what it was like to have a grandad. I guess you don't realise what you have unless you lose it.

ViolaLass

mumps wrote: »

I was a child when my dad died, my husband was a baby when his dad died. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to have had a grown up conversation with my dad, to have seen him on my wedding day, to see him hold his grandchildren. My children never knew what it was like to have a grandad. I guess you don't realise what you have unless you lose it.

I'm sorry you had to go through that but why would you want to make people feel bad for e.g. not wanting parents to worry just because they're not answering their home phone?

Kaye1

mumps wrote: »

I was a child when my dad died, my husband was a baby when his dad died. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to have had a grown up conversation with my dad, to have seen him on my wedding day, to see him hold his grandchildren. My children never knew what it was like to have a grandad. I guess you don't realise what you have unless you lose it.

That is very sad for you both. But if you continue in that vein, no-one can get frustrated, sad, upset, worried, anxious or stressed about their parents just in case they die. The real world doesn't work like that. As long as the parents know that this is coming from a place of love, it's ok to feel frustrated at the situation.