Video calling for the Aged

[Astacus]

I am looking at setting up a device that will allow me to do video calls with my Mum. She lives quite a way away and is not startlingly tech savvy and in her late 80s. I can face time her when my sister is there as she has an iPad, but I was looking for something she can just leave on the side and push a button when we call her to accept and maybe, push a button if she wants to call us.

I have an apple ecosystem at home with an Ero mesh

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

[Mammasaid]

Astacus said:

I am looking at setting up a device that will allow me to do video calls with my Mum. She lives quite a way away and is not startlingly tech savvy and in her late 80s. I can face time her when my sister is there as she has an iPad, but I was looking for something she can just leave on the side and push a button when we call her to accept and maybe, push a button if she wants to call us.

I have an apple ecosystem at home with an Ero mesh

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

Sorry of Apple doing their own smart display, I'd suggest one from Goggle, Amazon or Facebook Portal.

[PF62]

Astacus said:

I was looking for something she can just leave on the side and push a button when we call her to accept and maybe, push a button if she wants to call us.

Amazon Echo ‘drop in’ mode.

You set up specific numbers that can initiate a call to the Echo and if the recipient doesn’t reject within 10 seconds it automatically connects without the recipient needing to do anything.

Any callers not on the ‘drop in’ list still have to be accepted by the recipient, so you are not opening it up to all and sundry.

If the Echo owner don’t want to receive video calls from anyone there is a physical slider that they can use to cover the camera.

Calls can be made from an Amazon app on phone or tablet.

[sparkyhx]

We use this with mother in law who is getting seriously confused with just phone usage these days

[Astacus]

Thanks everyone that looks like the best bet. I’ve looked at a few options that were specifically made for old people but there was nothing that actually allowed the person to initiate call’s bizarrely

[sgrimshaw]

Nice thing with the Amazon devices is that once setup your Mum can call people by just saying "Alexa (or Echo) call xxxxx"

Echo Show's are on offer £30 off at the moment: