23 Ways Seniors NEED Alexa!

23 Ways Seniors NEED Alexa!

Our parents need some help today. Not just with the COVID-19 pandemic, but with their connected lives in general. As automaters and as people with smart homes we can help them a ton. Whether it's with #gadgets, with #Alexa skills, or with setting up their #echo speakers and displays, there's a lot we can do.

Products seen in today's video (Amazon Affiliate links):

Thanks for watching, and Don't Hate, Automate.

Brian

[pattijay]

I have been using computers since Windows 3.1 (I turn 70 next week) and built the computer I'm using now. I love finding stuff that's new and useful and fun to learn about. I have 4 Echo dots, and a 5 and an 8. (Also 9 Kindles. They last forever.) Thanks for showing me new ways to use my gadgets.

[blomegoog]

More people need to see this video. Just setup a echo show 15 for a couple who didn't even have internet or cellphone. they can speak to it in a foreign language also, and view their ring cameras, all by voice.

[faengelm]

Thanks for doing this. At 6:00 I think you hit on the right driver to get parents interested automation by turning on/off outside lights. This is a great convenience and a security feature as it makes their home appear to be occupied. I really liked the smarthome dashboard at 7:36. I didn't know that existed on Fire TV!

[HughD]

Nice job, Brian, and a nod to Frank, too. I will point out that for many families, it's the seniors who are giving tech advice/help to their kids and even grandkids. Many of them have grown up using a phone 90% of the time and wouldn't begin to know where to start with some of the things you've described. It's not that they're dumb, but it's just not been a priority for them. Plus in many cases it's the seniors have more time on their hand to research how to do things. Nevertheless, no matter who benefits the most, it's a benefit to families to find ways to stay close. Around here, that's become Zoom. Oh, I will mention that Wyze let's you share cameras and sensors with others without giving them your account info. Alexa routines work well with them too. That means if you want to know someone is up and moving normally, it's pretty easy to set that up.

[Darthwein]

I second the amazingness that is Frank. And Brian your not to shabby yourself :)

[tammystastycuisine]

Can the echo flex light be set up to flash if a call is coming in to the echo?

[michaelmock]

Do you plan a video on the new lunacy from ifttt „pro“ where they restrict you to 3 applets unless you pay a monthly fee?

[berylwhite]

Great job I think you covered just about everything miss a can do! I use most all of her features. And what I don't use I think the cat does. She has made my life much much easier and I feel a lot younger because of her. Thanks again for all your wonderful hard work. Take care of grandma and grandpa and the kids. And don't forget the wife and dog

[marioStortuga]

I have to say this is a very well thought out video

[ronm]

Thanks Brian. Hope to hear from you in 6 days. ;-)

[pitpony]

Another great video!! My Mom is 92 and I just got her the Blink Mini for security. She has the Show 8 but it can't find the camera. Any suggestions?? Thanks!!

[RodPriester]

Great video Brian....nice features....would you recommend the google/Lenovo over echo show? My mom is pretty tech savvy for an 85 yr old...she uses and iPhone....but is thinking about a Pixel 4a because she “is bored with the iPhone”...

[samgorrie]

This has been very helpful. Im trying to set up an amazon alexa for my grandma. She is blind so a show isn't necessary but im building a simple list of things she can try which one of the care takers can read to her, and she can practice doing. listen to music, ask about the weather, ask for a joke, ask about her favourite sports teams, and play her audio book (gonna set her up with audible) any other suggestions?

[giovanniturco]

Hi Brian fantastic video again you mentioned the echo glow? They don’t sell them on amazon.co.uk ended ordering from amazon.com with the 3rd gen kids edition rainbow have to send them to my American address to be shipped to the UK can you let me know is the echo glow good or not thanks

[scienceexplains]

Nice video.
Could you go a step further and do one for setting up an Echo for seniors living alone or in an assisted living facility who no longer has good short-term memory and who will never touch the Echo, but use it only via voice?

I am thinking of someone who can talk fine, but anything beyond an off/on button wills always be too much to handle.
There is an internet connection, so remote configuration by a family member is fine and will sometimes be the only option (they have a “lockdown” when someone in the facility gets Covid-19).

Maybe your video could first show how to perform the configuration in person (by a visitor), then remotely.

Some things she would benefit from:
1) Echo speaks a reminder to turn down the bed when the staff come to change her socks (she forgets and so does the staff sometimes)
2) family photos posted to an account pop up on the Echo screen
3) can ask Echo to play a music playlist
4) live video connection to family ala FaceTime

You may want to include phone pairing options, but having two ways to do anything remotely technical would be confusing for her.

[gracesuarez]

Thank you for not being "too" condescending.

[LisaSargent]

I wish Alexa could help my mum show her bank account summary because she keeps phoning me saying that she has money coming out but has to wait every month to see a letter.

[BobbyBrd]

Can you do a video on this topic for google? 🙌

[ernestmac]

If people need help setting up things for parents, Best Buy has a program through Geek Squad which is called assured living. Not only can they set up standard smart home devices, they can set up a sensor for beds and I believe chairs; which along with their 24/7 monitor service, which also works with a device similar to first alert, so if they fall, stay motionless for too long, etc, they can alert family, those on a contact list, and if this fails emergency services. I used to.sell.computers there, and sold smart home devices. I not only refered customers to.this service for their older family members, but had customers who were seeking to.set up smart home.twchnologiea for a family member bed ridden or with limited mobility due to having a disability or even a disease like cancer. We often don't think how liberating all these smart devices can be for people. I had a customer who is wheelchair bound who loved his smart door lock and smart doorbell, so he could talk to a delivery person, or if need be let them.or some else into.thw house. He explained how, by the time he got.oit of bed, dressed and to.the door; many folks would leave. Now, he can simply talk to.his smart speaker.

[captainprototype]

Can you make the same vid for the Nest show? Currently I am using Google Remote Desktop and Teamviewer
to help my mom.. I can access her webcam so I can check on her and I can control her Skype so her mini pc can call me; The mini pc draws about 10 watts and her 17 inchh screen is TFT and should draw about 30 watts max. Her mini pc stays on 24/7 because I cannot wake it up mode remotely. But I can put the monitor in sleep mode and wake that up remotely.
I want a Show for her bedroom so I can check on her sometimes.s on my phone and she can easily vid call me;