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NFT: Remote control for elderly

davek3698 : 10/19/2019 8:54 am
Has anyone successfully replaced a cable remote with one that is more user friendly for an elderly family member? Widowed mom is consistently having issues with her Optimum cable remote. Would love to replace it with a universal type that is simple, but having difficulty finding one compatible with her Optimum cable box. TIA.
Had the same issue with my wife’s folks  
BillT : 10/19/2019 9:00 am : link
Voice command makes the most sense but not a cable companies have that. Below is a best 10 list. I think one mentioned voice control. Good luck
Link - ( New Window )
tape...or tear out the buttons  
AnnapolisMike : 10/19/2019 9:37 am : link


disappointed  
JesseS : 10/19/2019 9:45 am : link
that no one took this thread title and ran
This is actually a real problem  
AnnapolisMike : 10/19/2019 10:02 am : link
My MIL has dementia....and just can't work a remote at all. Phone calls saying the TV is not working (because she hits the source button) are frustrating as hell
Would a voice activated remote help?  
Steve in ATL : 10/19/2019 10:12 am : link
I also have a family member with dementia.
Link - ( New Window )
.  
Jim in Fairfax : 10/19/2019 10:15 am : link
Man, if I had a nickel for all the times I had to go by  
jcn56 : 10/19/2019 10:21 am : link
and fix a 'broken tv' because they accidentally changed the input I'd be a rich man.

I'm surprised no one has made a remote like this yet - sounds like a business opportunity for someone. Huge buttons, volume and channel changing only.
RE: This is actually a real problem  
Big Al : 10/19/2019 10:26 am : link
In comment 14633363 AnnapolisMike said:
Quote:
My MIL has dementia....and just can't work a remote at all. Phone calls saying the TV is not working (because she hits the source button) are frustrating as hell
it gets worse they confuse the remote with the phone.
RE: Man, if I had a nickel for all the times I had to go by  
Jim in Fairfax : 10/19/2019 11:02 am : link
In comment 14633370 jcn56 said:
Quote:
and fix a 'broken tv' because they accidentally changed the input I'd be a rich man.

I'm surprised no one has made a remote like this yet - sounds like a business opportunity for someone. Huge buttons, volume and channel changing only.

There are a bunch of such products on Amazon. I can’t speak to any of them though.

One example - ( New Window )
I had good luck with a remote controlled  
Jay in Toronto : 10/19/2019 11:14 am : link
one with my late Mom that came with the latest version of the Comcast box she had.

The trick was her remembering that he had to keep the button depressed while she was speaking
Had Spectrum  
Hazlet Giant's Fan : 10/19/2019 11:16 am : link
remote has 63 buttons, for what? Directv remote has 35 I know this cause I won a bet on it lol. I'm not elderly yet but Direct Tv's remote is much more user friendly. Maybe some red model paint on buttons they shouldn't touch. Green for what turns it on something simple like that.
RE: RE: This is actually a real problem  
markky : 10/19/2019 11:55 am : link
In comment 14633372 Big Al said:
Quote:
In comment 14633363 AnnapolisMike said:


Quote:


My MIL has dementia....and just can't work a remote at all. Phone calls saying the TV is not working (because she hits the source button) are frustrating as hell

it gets worse they confuse the remote with the phone.


This is true. Frustrating.

I've seen programmable remotes but the ones I've seen all have a lot of buttons. There must be ones with just a handful of buttons. Otherwise, the tape idea seems like a great idea.
Here's one with just 6 buttons.  
markky : 10/19/2019 11:58 am : link
I wonder if this would help
remote with 6 buttons - ( New Window )
Yes, it's a lot of fun..  
Ryan : 10/19/2019 12:12 pm : link
My kids like to make ramps for them to go off of but they need some help getting back up.
Thanks guys, but those remotes  
davek3698 : 10/19/2019 1:13 pm : link
on the reviews/answered questions part of amazon it mentions that those remotes cant be programmed to cable boxes. I think they are made to just connect to the tv itself.
RE: Thanks guys, but those remotes  
AnnapolisMike : 10/19/2019 1:23 pm : link
In comment 14633464 davek3698 said:
Quote:
on the reviews/answered questions part of amazon it mentions that those remotes cant be programmed to cable boxes. I think they are made to just connect to the tv itself.


We like our Comcast voice remote. But still...old folks and tv remotes do not mix well. I kinda was serious about cutting out buttons that are issues like the source button.
Ask the cable provider for a senior friendly remote or special  
Ivan15 : 10/19/2019 9:30 pm : link
Programming. Voice command for channel selection works well, but you still need to know how to use the remote. A selection box with only channel and volume maybe best.
Dave  
BobOnLI : 10/20/2019 8:03 am : link
Sometimes old folks alone screw things up just so they get some company.
Anyway, I have a Samsung TV and Samsung Optimum box and the TV remote operates the Optimum box via HDMI (i.e. change channels). It's a long shot but you might be able to get a TV remote that does all you need.
Dave  
BobOnLI : 10/20/2019 11:38 am : link
Sometimes old folks alone screw things up just so they get some company.
Anyway, I have a Samsung TV and Samsung Optimum box and the TV remote operates the Optimum box via HDMI (i.e. change channels). It's a long shot but you might be able to get a TV remote that does all you need.
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