Accessibility items for parents-voice activated

[tealblue]

Not sure if the title accurately expresses what I need but trying to brainstorm.

Due to a recent health issue, my dad has lost the ability to move his fingers independently. He may regain some in PT, but also finding the touch screen on his phone (iPhone)won’t recognize his fingers due to gangrene/dead tips.

I am honestly overwhelmed by handling all of his medical issues, my life, making his house physically accessible and a massive amount of other things going on but have realized I also need to set him up to do things later at home, once he’s released from the Hosptial and rehab facilities.

I assume using a tv remote is not going to work, with a thousand tiny buttons, and much of the touch screen world may be out of reach too since they don’t sense his fingertips and he has finger control issues.

What items do you know about that could be synched together to maybe do a voice control for his TV/Phone? I think he has some Google pods around but not sure if we get a Firestick if he can just hit the circle in the remote and say “hey Alexa, turn the channel to the history channel” and it will work? I know Apple has an accessibility section that I can activate on his phones but I am a visual person and have to figure it out as I implement it on his phone. Any ideas or tips for accessibility items outside of technology?

[whattheheck]

I believe there is a way to connect an echo dot to a fire stick so that it is voice controlled.

[jenny1223]

I know with Google Chromecast and Google home, you can do voice controls like, "play show on Netflix" and pause/play. (Power and volume were not voice controlled). Probably the same with Amazon Alexa devices.

Good luck! That sounds really hard for both you and your dad.

[mofongo]

The therapists at rehab may have some suggestions.

[cereal K]

I know it's not exactly the same, but my dad is blind, and relies very, very heavily on accessibility tools. He has big, old-man fingers so while he technically can use buttons and touch screens, he can't really see what he's tapping. He uses text-to-speak a LOT. He's basically walks around with one AirPod in all the time so he can talk to/ask Siri for things. He texts, takes and makes calls, and listens to audio books with it. They use Google devices in the home for lights, music.

My dad is also an appointee to his state's commission for the blind - they have a lot of support and training for accessibility. They also support people with low-vision, so not everything is for those without sight. All that to say perhaps you can see if a similar commission exists in your dad's state and could provide some assistance.

[lessel]

Does he have any ability to grip something? A thick stylus might be an option to use the iPhone. www.amazon.com/Studio-Neat-Cosmonaut-Wide-Grip-Capacitive/dp/B007EW9ISM/. You can control an Apple TV from your phone. My LG TV also has an app that I can do things that the Apple TV remote app on my phone won't do (like adjust volume).

If he can't grip, I think there are some hand straps for phones and a stylus.

[stemmie]

I would work with his team to get an OT consult in-home with the things he has now.

Before my dad was released from rehab, an OT came and vetted the house to make it safe and functional for him.

The Comcast Xfinity voice control remote is user friendly. Even my mom can manage it.

[tealblue]

Thank you ladies so much for your ideas!

He’s still in the Hosptial and will be going to rehab later this month, so a great idea to ask them. They will do PT and OT (they are doing some at the Hosptial but more like transferring to chairs, moving legs and arms).
He currently does not have any gripping ability but obviously this could change with rehab. I know he will need to continue pt/ot after the rehab facility but I’m trying to think of ways to make everything a bit more capable for him. He’s understandably frustrated that he can’t scratch/grab/etc.

It has been a truly overwhelming few weeks getting him through the Hosptial stay and now dealing with “home” life to make sure he’s capable of some basic things at home. Like we are remodeling and making his bathroom more accessible and I thought let’s do a shower curtain but then decided he probably can’t grip a curtain to close so a door where he can close it with his palm might be better/keep the water off the floor. Grip handles where he can, raising up the toilet/vantiy/etc.

There’s just SO MUCH to think about. And I’m exhausted 🤣

I appreciate again the suggestions and will look into community resources and the suggestions his therapists can provide.

[W.T.Faulkner]

I see the accessibility features have been covered for iPhone. My father-in-law has Alexa-controlled lightbulbs on all lights in the house so he can turn lights on and off (he has progressive MS and can now only blink and talk in terms of movement). His Comcast remote is voice-controlled and works really well for him, too.

[stmonica2]

The active hands company has some pretty neat gadgets

[tealblue]

Apr 9, 2024 10:02:42 GMT -5 stmonica2 said:

The active hands company has some pretty neat gadgets

This shop is fantastic! Thanks, I’ll look around on here.

[mrspez07]

FIL had ALS and my SIL outfitted the house with Alexa smart plugs and switches, and I think even the TV had some of the voice controls (older TV didn’t work that way).
You have to name the lamps (turn on sofa light), etc. and then care providers or other visitors need to be aware to not turn off switches.
He also switched to Siri on his Apple phone and went to an iPad for most everything not call-related.