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

KxMx

Paul have you thought about re-locating the phone/turning the ringer down so it doesn't wake the baby up?

I think it's very unlikely your Dad will change; so the onus would be on you to look for ways to mitigate his behaviour.

belfastgirl23

Do you think your dad is ok? Does this kind of behaviour chime with how he normally is? I worry that if someone changes behaviour in this kind of way it can be linked with the onset of some kind of illness. If he is confused and forgetful and isn't sure what time it is or whether or not you committed to phoning him at a particular time, that is a much bigger flag for me than the phone call in itself.

[Deleted User]

mumps wrote: »

I suggested the handsfree calls on the way home, no reply from OP. I thought it would be an ideal way to have a chat with dad in time that is normally not very useful.

Get the train and the signal is awful :-(

[Deleted User]

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

Hmmm, yes my parents are the same about mobile phones. My mum has one, but it's usually switched off and kept in a sandwich bag in her handbag! She says 'oh I only keep it to use in an emergency' - yes, I'm pleased you've got one for that reason but what if I'm the one with the emergency and need to get hold of you and you're not at home? Also, if I don't answer my home phone or mobile (because I didn't get to it quick enough or I didn't hear it) she will leave a message all worried saying 'where are you?' I've told her it costs me money to retrieve a voicemail and she doesn't need to do it because I regularly check to see if I've had any missed calls/texts and get back to her asap.

The one that made me scratch my head though, was we bought them a laptop and they eventually got set up with broadband and started using email. However, for a while they were adamant they could only email people in their village, if they tried to email people outside the village they just bounced back as undeliverable!

Yes. Sounds very familiar with the switched off mobile idea. My Dads the same - when he wants to speak to you then you had better be available but he doesnt care if you ever need to speak to him.

[Deleted User]

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Do you think your dad is ok? Does this kind of behaviour chime with how he normally is? I worry that if someone changes behaviour in this kind of way it can be linked with the onset of some kind of illness. If he is confused and forgetful and isn't sure what time it is or whether or not you committed to phoning him at a particular time, that is a much bigger flag for me than the phone call in itself.

Nah hes not confused or forgetful. Unfortunately, this is 'normal' behaviour for him.

If he wants something its got to be now. It cant wait. He does not consider ever that I've got other things I've got to do as well.