nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:24 PM
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PSA for DU'ers with elderly parents |
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I knew I had to go to Mexico City for mom's surgery. (It went great by the way). So I took a Webcam for her, and installed SKYPE on their computer. Yes, SKYPE has a few issues, but your parents will thank you. They will be able to see you, and talk to you. That is worth the pain of training them on how to use the technology.
So if you have elderly parents... do them a favor, and give them a webcam if they have a computer and install skype for them. Trust me, the smile in their faces will make it worthy.
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niyad
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:26 PM
Response to Original message |
1. so glad to hear the surgery went well--can imagine how relieved you are. |
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the skype thing is a wonderful idea (imagine that, after that scene in "it's complicated", skype is going to get a LOT of new members!!
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nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:40 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
11. We got a twofer with them |
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mom's surgery was planned, but dad ended up in ANOTHER hospital over the same two days...
Oy, good thing we were down there.
I even got lost in Mexico City... and got to drive the Periferico on the way back with dad. So instead of twenty minutes, we took over an hour to get home, at night. That city is a mess to drive in.
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Nikki Stone1
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:27 PM
Response to Original message |
2. Hey Nadin. Are you back? |
nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
6. Yeah I am back had fun flying yesterday |
Nikki Stone1
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:13 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
20. Here you go, I even blogged about it |
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7340413By the way Phoenix was late so I did make my connection... no, not a line at TSA checkpoint.
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virgogal
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:27 PM
Response to Original message |
3. Hmmmm! I'm the elderly parent but now I have a hint-hint for Mother's Day. |
nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
7. Yes you do, and if you need help |
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I'll help you with skype
My mom is 80, so we literally did this from one room to the next until she got it.
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virgogal
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:40 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
12. Thanks----I'm 77 so will probably need help. Glad your Mom is |
nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:43 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
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I had never used it either. Just a word of warning, if you are using two computers in the same room to learn with, the interference is really bad over a wireless that is. I am sure on a land line no problem. You need about 10 feet minimum for the systems not to go haywire on you.
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virgogal
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:52 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
14. I have one Dell notebook and Broadband and that's quite enough |
nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
15. I brought my netbook along |
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and I was pleasantly surprised to find out it had a mike apart of the camera.
It is just simply polite, in my view, to bring my own computer. We also installed the wireless for her oh two trips ago. We all use the damn wireless every time we go down there. Funny, the brother who lives down there, and chief reason for the wireless, refuses to use it.
LOOOOONNNNGGGG STORY.
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virgogal
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
16. Thanks so much for all your help----my tech I.Q. is abysmal,but |
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I manage.
My "kids" do very well,of course,and it's like breathing to the grandkids.
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proud patriot
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:31 PM
Response to Original message |
4. I wish I was in a postion to do that |
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My Grandma is just about 90 and she emails I bet she would love skype .
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nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:34 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
9. SKYPE is free, and if you do not have |
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Edited on Mon Dec-28-09 08:35 PM by nadinbrzezinski
a webcam, it can also handle just audio
Also AOL Messenger does that now.
I just updated all the sofware on her ancient computer.
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Warpy
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:31 PM
Response to Original message |
5. I had big plans for my dad |
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I bought him a laptop and taught him the basics. He never did figure out how to do anything but play solitaire on the thing, never signed on to the AOL I'd loaded, never figured anything else out. I think he was afraid he'd break it or something.
Skype only works if you've got parents who warm up to the technology.
But yes, it could be a godsend. I had to diagnose things over the telephone.
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nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
10. My mom uses just what she knows how to use |
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We do maintainance every time we go to visit.
I know how hard it can be, spent a good three days, over the last week, training her on how to use it.
Yes, she is afraid of breaking things too. Hell I was at eighteen.
:-)
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katkat
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:36 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
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I taught my Mom how to use a pc over the phone when she was in her 80s. It was great fun for both of us.
From years ago when I used to teach beginning computer users when hardly anyone knew what a computer was, I learned to first tell them, you cannot possibly break the machine unless you drop it on the floor or something, don't worry about that. Anything you can do by typing in, we can fix.
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nadinbrzezinski
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:43 PM
Response to Reply #19 |
21. I've dropped a computer and broken it by the way |
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last trip, netbook met floor... I had to replace it. Ahem motherboard cracked.
We told her same, and we fix hers every so often.
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Warpy
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Mon Dec-28-09 11:51 PM
Response to Reply #19 |
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I vaguely remember telling him the only way he could screw it up was by throwing it into the swimming pool.
He just never warmed up to it.
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WonderGrunion
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Mon Dec-28-09 08:34 PM
Response to Original message |
8. Glad to hear your mom is doing well. |
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My brother and I got a webcam for our parents when they retired to Florida a few years ago. They love being able to see us online. They even got to see snow at Christmas without getting cold.
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That Is Quite Enough
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Mon Dec-28-09 09:23 PM
Response to Original message |
18. What an awesome, sweet idea. |
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