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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Elderly folk and iPads!

23 replies

mintchocchick · 05/12/2013 17:49

I'm sure this is a bit like the kids and iPad thread - impossible to generalise about what works for different families but I'd be interested in people's experience.

I am thinking of clubbing together with my brother, sister in law and DH and buying our parents an iPad mini between us. We worked out with all the bits and pieces that we buy them it would nearly equal the £250 for an iPad mini.

But would my 82yr old dad and 79yr old mum like it? My dad uses a desktop for producing church newsletter and other 'work' so he works at his desk for several hours every day and evening. My mum uses her laptop for minutes of church meetings, emails and loads of games of patience.

So they're into the technology but never Internet shop, still use a travel agrnt for holiday booking and don't bother with the faff of recording TV / if they miss something, they just miss it. So maybe they'd not be bothered with I player, or games and maybe it would be a waste?

Should we stick to the usual scarf, gloves, wine and ginger chocs?!

OP posts:

7to25 · 05/12/2013 17:52

My FIL LOVES his iPad and cannot live without it. He has failing eyesight and downloads newspapers to read. The screen is backlit and the text expandable so he finds it much easier to read.

indignatio · 05/12/2013 17:59

Absolutely a brilliant present. Can suggest word game apps if required - sorry for the generalisation, it's just one of the uses our parents and inlaws use theirs for.

indignatio · 05/12/2013 18:00

I might go for the original size rather than the mini because of text size.

Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 05/12/2013 18:03

My Grandad (89 in February) has one (well a normal sized one, not a mini) and he gets on great with it - he finds it very user friendly, though I'm not sure what he uses it for exactly…can't imagine him playing games or watching inlayer etc on it but probably emails, news and surfing the web.
He uses his PC for emails, photoshop, emails etc.

However, my grandma would never use it as it's too complicated for her and don't think she'd get the hang of the touch screen, especially with her arthritis.

My mum, stepdad, FIL and MIL have one each too and although a lot younger (aged 64, 67, 51 and 57) and more in touch with the modern world, they all love them to bits, use for different things and couldn't live without them! (Having said that, they all have iPhones as well!)

wordyBird · 05/12/2013 18:11

Give it a go. :)
I'd agree that the larger size might be easier to handle. Question of budget though.
Everyone uses them differently: they're the kind of thing people say 'oh I'd never find a use for that' .... and then do, and love them!

Deux · 05/12/2013 18:20

Agree with the larger size being better. My parents and in-laws have ipads and have taken to them in a way they never really did with laptop/desktops.

My mum now does lots of online shopping but she often uses a stylus to navigate as she has mild arthritis.

The best thing is they face time their grandchildren. I think they are perfect for this generation as they are fast, intuitive and reliable. Mine even take their ipad if they travel anywhere.

Both sets of parents are early 70s.

BobCrotchstitch · 05/12/2013 18:39

While he would kill me if I were to describe him as "elderly", DH is no spring chicken and crap with technology in general.
We got an iPad mini predominantly because he had decided he needed to move into the present day and it was the best thing we had ever done. It is literally his lifeline now, every morning he checks if he has any emails from his 4 contacts listens to the radio (as the digital radio in the kitchen is now sooo old school ) then wraps it tenderly in a beer towel (despite its military grade protective case) and takes it to work.
He then spends all day using it to take photos, listen to his music and send me emails of his photos and updates as to where he is
He does also have a couple of really good apps for work as well
Once home he will watch the news (TV? Pah!) catch up on The Archers, use iPlayer to watch endless programmes of people buying houses and spending £10000 on a set of taps or hours searching for hopelessly impractical and vastly expensive cars on eBay.
I would say go for it, the more he uses it the more he can use it IYSWIM? Also I think the fear that it is possible to "break" an iPad by pressing the wrong button is not there, whereas we have all heard horror stories of computers costing hundreds of pounds to put right because somebody pressed the wrong key :o

CMOTDibbler · 05/12/2013 18:43

They might use it, but instead of spending £££ on a iPad, get them a Hudl, Nook or Kindle Fire which are all round the £100 mark and do just the same job

Oblomov · 05/12/2013 18:56

Mil, 82, can not handle technology at all. But loves her iPad. She face times everyone and speaks to all her grandchildren ( 14 of them) and great grandchildren ( 7 of them) . Totally fab.

capsium · 05/12/2013 18:59

I remember my Nan before she died, looking a Google Street Maps with us, on the i-pad. She got the hang of of it straight away and was zooming in on all her old haunts!

capsium · 05/12/2013 19:03

Oh and Mum and Dad have had to take Grandad round a virtual tour of a pub they were eating in during Face Time!

Original poster

mintchocchick · 05/12/2013 19:44

Oh this is fabulous - sounds a real winner with some oldies!

I'm sure my parents would start off unsure but them be squabbling over it in no time!

I'd like to buy it and set up apps all ready for them but I suppose I can only buy apps if they use an iTunes account - is that right? They refuse to buy anything over the internet so that could be a problem.

Any ideas of word finding apps much appreciated indignatio

OP posts:

Shamoy · 05/12/2013 20:06

My 85 year old nan who has never got the hang of a conputer uses an iPad. The big one as it's clearer.
She emails, is on Facebook! And keeps photos etx on there as well as using the internet.

Shamoy · 05/12/2013 20:06

My 85 year old nan who has never got the hang of a conputer uses an iPad. The big one as it's clearer.
She emails, is on Facebook! And keeps photos etx on there as well as using the internet.

Shamoy · 05/12/2013 20:06

My 85 year old nan who has never got the hang of a conputer uses an iPad. The big one as it's clearer.
She emails, is on Facebook! And keeps photos etx on there as well as using the internet.

Shamoy · 05/12/2013 20:06

My 85 year old nan who has never got the hang of a conputer uses an iPad. The big one as it's clearer.
She emails, is on Facebook! And keeps photos etx on there as well as using the internet.

Shamoy · 05/12/2013 20:06

Sorry!!!

Levantine · 05/12/2013 22:05

My late mil was keen on her iPad but no way could she have managed a kindle fire, much to fiddle. I have to agree that the standard size iPad would probably be better but it is more expensive obv

TheDayOfMyDoctor · 05/12/2013 22:16

It would need an iTunes account but you can set one up that can be used with iTunes vouchers rather than linked to a credit card or bank account. You can also gift apps from your own iTunes account. From the App Store, click the share button on the app and there's an option to gift the app.

indignatio · 06/12/2013 07:44

App Store card (similar to iTunes card). Enter the code on the iPad and then they have "cash" to spend on apps without entering credit/debit card details.

Word games that grandparents enjoy include
Words with friends - games going with each of the grandchildren at any one time
QatQi, when wanting to play alone.

Skype is brilliant for keeping in touch

My lot would not be without them.

MelanieCheeks · 06/12/2013 14:39

Great for Skype and photos. Not so great if they need to print anything.

Go for the larger size rather than the mini.

Camargue · 06/12/2013 14:47

Do you get 3G or are your older relatives all on wireless networks? None of ours are so it's holding us back. Great idea though I think ours would love it.

JakeBullet · 06/12/2013 15:03

Spoke with a friend who is a Nun and they have just got one in their Convent.....,,,it has to be prised from the hands of the eldest Sister who loves it,

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