Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 6

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 6

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad
Week 6:  Memory Block

How many of you remember the game Simon?  The original Milton Bradley electronic version came out in 1978.  You can now buy this "vintage" (a fancy way of saying old so you can charge more) game on eBay which is just what I did several years ago.  I was working with a gentleman who'd had a stroke and I thought (hoped) this might be something he could do with limited use of his hands.  Unfortunately the large buttons were too hard for him to press so I tried one of the newer portable versions but the buttons were too small (I was starting to feel like Goldilocks).  In the end, another good idea bit the dust.

Sadly, my client passed away before the advent of the iPad.  I think of him often and wish I'd been able to expand his world with the incredible apps available.

One game in particular that I think he would have enjoyed is Memory Block.   Similar to Simon, Memory Block has a ring with 4 or 5 different colored buttons (you can adjust the number), each with its own sound.  The iPad lights a button and plays the tone.  Then it’s your turn.  If the correct button is pressed, a second one is added to the sequence and so on until a mistake is made.  Then it’s back to the beginning.  Strange but true…I find that “singing” the tune helps me remember the sequence.  However you do it, this is a simple, fun way to exercise your brain and you know the saying…use it or lose it! 

In memory mode, speed doesn’t matter making it perfect for those with slower motor responses.  And you can even adjust the rate at which the sequence is presented to allow more or less time for processing.

In speed mode, the color is called out while the color word flashes on the screen.  Rather than remembering a sequence, you must press the correctly colored button within a given time in order to advance.  After every 10 correct responses, the speed picks up and after 30 correct responses, a new challenge is added (I’m not going to tell…you’ll have to try it and see for yourself!).  There may be other surprises as well but (true confessions) my clients and I have never made it past 39!

And just so you know…this blogging thing is harder than it seems.  So instead of weekly Adventures, I’ll be posting occasionally, whenever inspiration strikes.  

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chicks@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 5

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad

Week 5:  iPad stylus

Well, I’ve found that as a geriatric care manager, I can’t just turn it off when I’m talking to my aunt who happens to be 81.  I know, I know…she’s not my client.  But still…

Her wonderful children gave her an iPad for Christmas.  The year before, they gave her a laptop.   The laptop is no longer with her.  In fact, the laptop is no longer a member of the family at all.  After several weeks of trying, it was returned, saving it from certain death as my aunt threatened to throw it out the window!

Now my aunt isn’t a violent person but that computer got the best of her.  But fortunately my cousins don’t give up easily.  And so my aunt got an iPad for Christmas.  And SHE LOVES IT!  Yes, there are times she threatens to throw it out the window too, but for the most part, she and the iPad are getting along just fine.

Here are some of the things she uses it for:

·         Emailing family and friends (she hasn’t really mastered spell check but for the most part, we can get the gist of it)

·         Checking her Facebook account to see pictures of those same people as they go off to school, train wiener dogs, and travel the globe

·         Making hotel reservations on Travelocity (she just calls it Travel, the “ocity” is too much for her)

·         Looking for a replacement jacket for her son and winding up on eBay

·         And best of all, forwarding a video of that same son as he practices adaptive rowing on the river!

Let me share a pointer that I gave my aunt (this is a double entendre as you’ll soon see).  She complained mightily about having “fat fingers” (which she doesn’t) and being unable to touch the right places on the screen.  Enter the pointer, aka stylus.  As you may know, only certain things (like fingers) will work on the touch screen.  You can’t wear gloves or poke at it with a pen, it won’t work.  But what if, like my aunt, you feel like your fingers are just too fat for the small targets on the screen? 

I’d recommend trying a stylus designed specifically for touch screens.  About the size of a small ball point pen, it has a special tip that activates the touch screen, just like your finger would, only the stylus tip isn’t fat, like you think your finger is, or at least my aunt thinks hers is.  As I was writing this, I went online to Amazon and ordered a pack of 6 to be shipped directly to my aunt because you see, the only problem she has with the stylus is that it is never where she and the iPad are.  Maybe with 6 (in a variety of bright colors) she’ll be able to find one when she needs it.  If not, at least they’ll look pretty scattered around her house.

Note:  these aren’t actually my aunt’s fingers nor are they "fat" but I love this picture (taken with my iPhone) and wanted a chance to share it!

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chicks@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 4

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad
Week 4:  Pandora & Holiday Bells

Music…that’s what I’m thinking about today.  Playing, listening, singing along…music is fun.  Or at least it can be if it’s music you like.  I mean lots of the “music” I hear doesn’t really sound that great to me.  I got in my car the other day and instantly realized I was not the last person to have driven my Prius.  What was that noise?!  Who listens to that stuff anyway?!  I’m not going to say what it was because I don’t want to insult or alienate anyone who might possibly have found their way to this blog (thanks, by the way). 

Anyway, the iPad makes it possible for anyone / everyone to find something to listen to.  I’m guessing many of you already know about the Pandora app.  But how many of you have a Maria Callas station (opera for one of my little ladies), a Mitch Miller Radio station (she loved to Sing Along with Mitch and, in fact, we’d often draw a crowd at the facility when Mitch was on), a Disney Radio station (okay, that one’s not for my seniors but I have some young children in my life too) and more?  It’s an eclectic assortment.  My kids think I’m kind of strange but then most kids wonder about their parents from time to time, don’t they?  Pandora’s nice because you can have it playing in the background while you are doing something else on your iPad…a great alternative to much of the “music” that goes along with other apps.  Just go to options on those other apps and turn off the sound.  If I can do it, trust me, you can too.

But what if you want to make your own music?  You’ve got to try the Holiday Bells app!  I’m writing this in September and it’s still hot here in Houston (although not quite as hot as it has been), so playing Jingle Bells seems a bit crazy but you know what?  I think I’m feeling a little cooler just imagining “dashing through the snow”. 

Anyway, Holiday Bells is like karaoke without singing.  The words (and a little snowflake) show you which bell to “ring” by tapping.  Some of my clients were able to follow along.  Others enjoyed the other options…touching a single handbell to hear it chime (you can change the note it plays too).  You can even shake the iPad to make the jingle bells ring (I actually found this was easier for my clients to do with my iPhone…the iPad is a little too big and a lot too expensive to risk dropping).

There are many piano apps too although I haven’t played them (LOL) because none of my clients have been interested.  Let me know if you have a favorite.

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chicks@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 3

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad 3
Week 3:  iPad camera & Doodle Buddy

This may not come as a surprise to you if you’ve actually read my first two posts but I’m not an iPad expert.  My son, who is currently working in Newfoundland (pronounced like understand in case you were wondering), comes home from time to time and teaches me cool new tricks.  I’m always impressed and vow to use each one forever and ever then promptly forget not just how to do it but what “it” even was.  Oh, well…

What I will share with you are apps that make me and my clients happy.  Some are “educational”, some are just for fun.  Some are “therapy” and others are silly.  All have been “tested” with my clients and proven to be successful for one reason or another.  Rather than give you a laundry list of apps, I’m going to tell you stories of how my clients and I have used the apps then you can decide which you want to explore further.  I’ll include a screen shot or two (just because my husband showed me how to do it again and maybe if I use it every week, I’ll remember.  If the screen shots quit appearing, you’ll know I forgot…either that I was going to include them or how to do it.)

Today I thought we’d talk about doctors…and waiting.  Have you ever had an appointment for say 10 o’clock and checked your watch every 5 minutes wondering if you would EVER get in?  I have.  It’s hard enough when you’re by yourself but when you have a client with dementia with you, the waiting can be even more challenging.  What to do, what to do, what to do…

Thank goodness I had my iPad with me.  We arrived on time for the doctor’s first appointment of the day.  The lights weren’t even on in the waiting room.  This was going to be a snap.  He couldn’t possibly be behind yet.  We’d be in and out in no time.  But wait.  And that’s what we did.  After 15 minutes of chatting (and waiting) I pulled out my iPad.  I clicked a picture of my client with my iPad camera and showed it to her.  She smiled (both for the photo and after, when she saw it) and asked, “Where’d you get a picture of my mother?”  And you know what?  It did look like her mother!  We reminisced about her family for a while…and waited.

 Looking for something interactive for us to do, I pulled up the Doodle Buddy app.  It’s just as it says…your own personal buddy to doodle with.  We played tic tac toe, drew pictures (sad faces because we’d been waiting so long) and she wrote her name (which I won’t show you because as a geriatric care manager, I take confidentiality very seriously).  Anyway, thanks to Doodle Buddy, time didn’t fly but it did pass and eventually we saw the doctor and left without tearing out all our hair (hers is the most beautiful white you’ve ever seen).  Moral of the story, never go to the doctor without a buddy!  

It’s hard to see in this Doodle Buddy screen shot but there are lots of fun things you can do with this app.  You can change colors, mediums (glitter might be cool!), shapes, etc.  Let it bring out your inner child!

P.S.  I happen to have the free version but for $0.99 you can hide the ads.  

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chicks@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

Stretching Your Caregiving $$

Kitchen Table Talk

One in four American households, about 22.3 million, provides emotional or physical care for aging parents, spouses or siblings.  Seventy-five percent of caregivers are women.  Male caregivers are on the rise. 1 in 8 middle-aged Americans are both raising a child and caring for a parent.

As we care for our aging loved ones, we must open the discussion of their wants and needs regarding healthcare.   Caregivers of aging loved ones can begin with a kitchen table talk.  This is a way to open the door for Advance Care Planning.   Advance Care Planning promotes communication and provides peace of mind for the caregiver and the care receiver. 

Ideas on how to open the discussion with your loved one:

·         “I know you can manage on your own, but I’m here if you need me.  Have you thought about where you’d like to live if you needed more help?”

·         “Have you thought about what you would do in an emergency?”

·         “Could you give me the name and phone numbers of your (lawyer, accountant, or others that might help manage their affairs) in case there is an emergency?”

·         “Dad, since Mom pays the bills and you prepare the taxes, do you know each other’s filing systems?  I’d like to know, too, since Mom might need help if anything happens to you.”

·         “Mom, I have recently been looking over my important papers and made sure they are filed in a safe place.  Have you and Dad done this?”

·         “I wanted to talk with you about the future while you are both healthy.  You always took good care of me.  Someday it might be my turn to take care of you, and I want to know what’s important to you.”

Be prepared.  Below is a list of items to consider in a discussion about Advance Care Planning.  Seek an Elder Law Attorney for legal documents and advice.

1.      Names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors, dentist, in home care providers, lawyers, financial advisors, and banks

2.      Will, Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney

3.      Keys to safe deposit box or mail box

4.      Insurance policies - life, health, auto etc.

5.      Social security, Medicare and Medicaid numbers

6.      Complete list of assets including savings, money market, stocks, bonds and any retirement accounts

7.      List of debts, including mortgages, personal loan and other liabilities

8.      List of all routine household bills

9.      Copies of income tax returns from the past three years 

10.   Government Resources – Medicare/Medicaid/VA

11.   Community Resources – Private In-Home Care

12.   Assistance Programs – Senior Adult Day Care

13.   Neighborhood Resources – Church Programs

Cindy Hartman, RN, BSN

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chartman@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

 

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 2

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad
Week 2:  Koi Pond HD Lite

My first introduction to a touch screen came when I was given an iPhone for Christmas by my tech savvy husband and kids.  Really, all I wanted was a phone to call people…isn’t that what phones are for?  I certainly didn’t need all the fancy features…games?  Cameras?  Notes, clocks and calendars?  How in the heck do you make a phone call?!

It didn’t take me long to figure out that this gadget was the coolest thing ever.  And wouldn’t it be great for my clients?  There had to be apps to engage my clients with dementia, or what about keeping in touch with far flung families?  And if my iPhone had potential, just imagine what you could do with an iPad and its bigger screen and icons.  Hmmm…wasn’t my birthday coming soon?!

With iPad in hand (my family does in fact listen when I tell them things, at least occasionally), I traipsed over to the home of my swimming client and his wife.  The first app I loaded for them was Koi Pond HD Lite…hey, it was free and I’m cheap.  My little lady who’d had Alzheimer’s for years and was pretty much non-verbal was instantly attracted to the movement on the screen.  She watched intently as I dipped my finger into the “water” and followed the fish with her eyes as they swam out of sight.  When they returned, she tentatively touched the screen.  SPLASH!  Again they darted away.  She was entranced.  And so was her husband…not by the display but by the actions of his wife who was so often off in a world of her own. 

Together the two of them sat by the side of the pond, sometimes chasing the fish, other times quietly watching the calm, soothing dance of the koi.  What simple pleasure…what great joy!  My first Adventure with an iPad had me hooked (and yes, I get it)!

There are lots of awesome features available, particularly if you upgrade to Koi Pond HD, but for my purposes, the Lite version was perfect.

Here’s a screen shot of Koi Pond HD Lite and, just so you know, it’s not easy taking a picture of moving fish!

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager