Best way to get my elderly mum some audiobooks

[Frenchfancy]

I'm struggling to work out the easiest way to get some audiobooks to my DM. We live abroad and won't be seeing her until Easter. She has had cataract problems and is struggling to read.

She doesn't have a smart phone and her computer skills are limited especially now her sight is bad.

Is there a good device I could get her that would be easy to use? Or should I just stick to CDs? Or is there another option I haven't thought of.

I used CDs and the library have a good selection so it's very cheap

Amazon echo you can buy them for her remotely and she can just ask it to play x book.

www.listening-books.org.uk/

You can order for her

Just "Alexa play little women by Louisa May Alcott" it's that simple.

www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/reading-and-books/talking-books/

Rnib do a similar service

I don't have Alexa but I believe it is easy enough for most people to use. I'm sure another poster will be able to give better information, but that would be my first thought.

If I got her an echo I assume that I would need access to her Amazon account to set it up. If I buy one on my account won't it be linked. I don't want to give her access to my account. Would it be easy for her to set up?

If you join the local library you can get borrowbox which is an audio book library . It's very straightforward you can join your library online .

@Frenchfancy, you can just give her access to your Audible account rather than your an Amazon account.

My DCs listen to Audible books on my account through an Echo Dot. Very easy to operate.

My library has a home library service. They will deliver and pick up audio books..plus a chat with the driver!

Does she have an Amazon account? An Alexa will need setting up but is very easy to use.

What format do the borrowbox come in? She has no smartphone. She probably wouldn't be able to sign up online but I might be able to persuade her to go to the library. Her mobility isn't good so she doesn't like to go anywhere she can't use her scooter.

Rnib do this sort of thing. I think they come in the post

Even giving access to my audible account would be problematic. How would she know which books are on there? What would stop her buying more?

Is there a way to link an echo as a read only device? So no purchases possible?

Yoto player? You'd need to update the card.

So difficult trying to do things at a distance. She won't even use zoom/facetime. DB got her a webcam last year but she has no idea how to use it. I think the echo might end up the same.

Have you looked around her local library service?

Very, very old school but when I had a relative with severe sightloss there was a particular mp3 player that I found, I loaded the mp3s on to it from my laptop and would send it to them. It was controlled entirely by physical buttons (no menu, touchscreen or panel to view) and had its own inbuilt speaker. All my relative had to do was press play, back and forward. In those days mp3s were found more by pirating and I think that's what you would have to do in this scenario because you would need to be able to use the files directly, without an app or DRM. You could always purchase a legal copy to make up for it.I just don't know whether those devices are still around, maybe on Ebay or something?

I find borrowbox quite rubbish really. Nearly all the books are out on loan and so you have to reserve them and then be really quick to respond to the email when it comes. And the filters are not very good either.

I'd go for bog standard CD player and CDs.

This was about fifteen years ago, I should have said.

When you buy an echo, there’s a box to untick if you don’t want it linked to your own Amazon account. Then when it arrives you can set it up for your mum’s account. Unfortunately that would still involve you, or someone, being there to set it up for her.

Ah yes, the echo seems a better option.

Agree with pp about the RNIB. Their talking books service was a lifeline for my elderly mother when her eyesight deteriorated due to macular degeneration.
They offered specially designed, easy to use, CD players and the CDs would arrive by post and could be returned free of charge by post. Preferred books/authors could be ordered over the phone. Brilliant service.

Different system, but if you set up a Google Nest Hub it can video call with just the command "hey Google, video call daughter".

The echo could be an option. Maybe I could set up a new Amazon account in her name that way I could pay for audible for her.

The MP3 idea is also a good one. Something like this www.amazon.co.uk/aigo-Bluetooth-Portable-Lossless-Touchscreen-Black/dp/B0B67S1DBK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=358C69ONHQUR8&keywords=aigo+mp3+players&qid=1669666284&sprefix=aygo+mp%2Caps%2C250&sr=8-3. Then I could load up some books.