Serious replies only please: this is about Karen

Trollheart · 09-12-2017, 07:36 PM

As most of you know, my sister Karen is bedbound with MS (Multiple Schlerosis) and needs to be in contact with me, as she is downstairs in the extension and I sleep upstairs. To date, we've found various ways of achieving this (text, wireless doorbell, intercom system etc) but now the latest, a pendant around her neck that she presses to alert me, is not going to work. Her grip, coordination and sight are all getting progressively worse, and she can no longer locate the pendant, never mind squeeze it. She told me yesterday she had been calling me for thirty minutes and demonstrated: she was squeezing the cord of the pendant, with the actual pendant dangling uselessly out of her reach. She couldn't even see where it was, and her grip is so bad she didn't realise what she was doing.

So now I have to look at alternatives. All I can think of is two: a baby monitor or a CCTV setup. Both raise privacy issues, to say nothing of having to be monitored all the time, and what about when I'm asleep? Neither of us are keen on this, but I see no other option.

What I would ideally love is an app or system that she could activate by voice (for sake of argument, an app which could be left open on a phone near her, into which she could just shout) and which would then alert me, send a message to my PC or phone, or call the phone maybe, to let me know she needed me. I have no idea if anything of this sort exists, but if it does, could whoever knows about it share that knowledge with me? Failing that, does anyone have any suggestions?

I know we mess around a lot here, but please, no jokes, off-colour or otherwise. This is a very serious situation and it has me really worried. If I can't monitor her, or have a way she can contact me, it could be really dangerous. I'm anxious to clear this latest hurdle her disease has thrown in our way, but I'm not quite sure how, so any suggestions, advice, help or, hell, even support would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

09-12-2017, 07:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	Serious replies only please: this is about Karen As most of you know, my sister Karen is bedbound with MS (Multiple Schlerosis) and needs to be in contact with me, as she is downstairs in the extension and I sleep upstairs. To date, we've found various ways of achieving this (text, wireless doorbell, intercom system etc) but now the latest, a pendant around her neck that she presses to alert me, is not going to work. Her grip, coordination and sight are all getting progressively worse, and she can no longer locate the pendant, never mind squeeze it. She told me yesterday she had been calling me for thirty minutes and demonstrated: she was squeezing the cord of the pendant, with the actual pendant dangling uselessly out of her reach. She couldn't even see where it was, and her grip is so bad she didn't realise what she was doing. So now I have to look at alternatives. All I can think of is two: a baby monitor or a CCTV setup. Both raise privacy issues, to say nothing of having to be monitored all the time, and what about when I'm asleep? Neither of us are keen on this, but I see no other option. What I would ideally love is an app or system that she could activate by voice (for sake of argument, an app which could be left open on a phone near her, into which she could just shout) and which would then alert me, send a message to my PC or phone, or call the phone maybe, to let me know she needed me. I have no idea if anything of this sort exists, but if it does, could whoever knows about it share that knowledge with me? Failing that, does anyone have any suggestions? I know we mess around a lot here, but please, no jokes, off-colour or otherwise. This is a very serious situation and it has me really worried. If I can't monitor her, or have a way she can contact me, it could be really dangerous. I'm anxious to clear this latest hurdle her disease has thrown in our way, but I'm not quite sure how, so any suggestions, advice, help or, hell, even support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018