Re: Geezer Tracker

["Robert L. Bass" <robertlbass@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Robert,

There's a company called Planet Mobility that may have just what you're
looking for in a phone.  It's called a "Liberty Bell"  cell phone.  It's
voice activated.  Here's the URL:
http://www.planetmobility.com/store/phones

There are hundreds of other suppliers in the assistive technology (AT)
marketplace.  This company is one I've heard of but I have not done business
with them so no endorsement one way or the other.

Best of luck.  My Dad is 84 and he's starting to have problems.  The other
day he fell down next to the pool and hurt his knee.  He couldn't get up and
my mom couldn't hear him.  He was stuck outside in 90+ weather -- pretty
scary until she finally heard him.  It's worrying me since I'm scheduled to
be out of the country soon for a couple of months.

I decided to order a PERS system from one of my suppliers.  There's a
wireless button he can carry or wear on his wrist.  If he falls or if he
presses the button it signals a base station in the house which in turn
notifies our central station.  They then call the house and if they don't
get an answer they send help.

I don't know if that sort of thing would help your dad.  If you're
interested in getting one let me know and I'll put you in touch with the
supplier.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>


"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:rrCdnfgoDNCb4UXfRVn-2w@xxxxxxxxxx
> "Dave Houston" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:42d84ba8.51366613@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> >He's succumbing to severe arthritis and is just generally slowing down
>> >in
>> >other ways, too.  I'd like to set up a sort of "adult monitor" system
> that
>> >can always tell me where he is and gives me the ability to communicate
> with
>> >him.  I know it sounds like On-Star for the disabled, but I recall
> reading a
>> >few threads here in which some gentlemen had done the same for his
>> >teenager's car, with GPS and speed transponders, among other things.  So
> I
>> >know it's doable.  I just don't know whether *I* can do it.
>>
>> Google on "Alzheimer Tracking". A cell phone that can be located is
> probably
>> the best thing for this situation.
>
> Yes, I've read about those phones.  There is a local sheriff's program
> that's had some remarkable successes with recovering lost "wanderers" with
> those special phones.  The problem with that system is I think you have to
> issue a "lost geezer" alert, and that's not something I want to do.  I'd
> like to have a plug in cradle on the chair so he can plug in a cellphone
> and
> operate it from a larger-buttoned control panel and speed dial up to ten
> numbers without much effort.  Most new cellphones are designed for people
> with very small fingers, very good vision and exceptional hand-eye
> coordination.  That's definitely NOT my dad!
>
>> >Part of the problems if that I can't really use anything COTS vis-a-vis
>> >keyboards or readouts.  He has trouble reading LCD's and fingering small
>> >buttons, which has sent me on a search for large button phones, remotes
> and
>> >DVD players.  I have a cheap but very rugged OFA remote with huge,
> form-cut
>> >buttons that he can manage with for now.  The problem is that I can see
>> >a
>> >time when even that level of manipulation will be difficult for him.
>> >I'm
>> >not sure where to go from there.  I know about devices like Sip-N-Puff
> and
>> >other head motion controllers, but there's got to be something for
>> >people
>> >who are not completely paralyzed.
>>
>> Assisted Living suppliers have very large buttons. Of course, the larger
> the
>> buttons, the fewer functions in any given space. There are proximity
> sensors
>> and field sensors that can create keypads on doors, glass, almost
> anything.
>> Some have been discussed here. Circuit Cellar magazine has also had some
>> articles on them.
>
> Part of the problem is that as soon as something's considered a medical
> device, its cost at least triples.  I bought him a very nice child's CD
> player for Christmas that he can handle quite easily because it has
> enormous
> color-coded controls.  My idea was to give him the ability to scroll
> through
> a large font on-screen list of choices using the right hand to advance and
> the left hand to select.  He can still mash things down with his fist
> pretty
> well.  :-)  I suspect it will be fairly easy to wire in large "mash"
> buttons
> to an existing mouse and use one of the very small PC's to drive it all.
> I'll have to give it all some thought because the problem he has now is
> over
> and underclicking.  He clicks either too early or too late and gets
> frustrated because he has to then back out of wherever he went
> accidentally.
>
>> >Well, any pointers or discussion would be welcome.
>>
>> There are also brain implants that allow control of a mouse cursor but it
>> doesn't seem like he need go that far.
>
> Most of those types of controls are for people quite a bit further along
> in
> decrepitude.  I want to deliver technological advantage without it being
> as
> much of a curse as it is a blessing.
>
>> If he always leaves by the same egress, some type of proximity switch
> could
>> trigger the audio reminders. You could even use RFID in such a way that
> only
>> the wheelchair passing would trigger it.
>
> Well, at least we have that part of it covered.  There's only one way out
> of
> the house on a scooter without going up or down a flight of stairs.  I've
> worked out a manual check list of things he needs before leaving the house
> for when Mom's not there to do it for him, but so far, there's been no
> real
> substitute for her hovering over him making sure he's got his cellphone,
> his
> water, his meds and his pants on.  :-)
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
>