Phone Calls for all Occasions

What types of people use automated phone reminders?

1. "Granddad" insists on living alone or has finally moved into assisted living. How do you make sure he's doing OK in either case? Like many older folks, he may be napping all afternoon and getting his "days and nights mixed up". Staying up all hours of the night can add a level of confusion that certainly isn't needed. Confusion can be caused by some medications as well and it all lumps together to make it even more difficult for him to remember all the things he should do - including taking his all important medications. So what's a family to do?

You may live in a different city or simply can't keep running over to check on him, but an automated phone call will wake him from his nap time at a reasonable hour each afternoon, and he won't miss out on dinner at his assisted living facility. It's a non-judgmental call, so he won't mind the wake-up call reminder.

2. "Grandmom" has been a widow for several years and insists she can manage just fine on her own. You aren't so sure, but you still don't want to insult her by questioning her capabilities. What can you do?

Maybe it's time to have the "Get-A-Call" discussion. Tell her there are ways to use the phone that will help her stay in the old homestead by herself and give you the peace of mind that she's taking her medications properly or waking up in time for her favorite TV shows, etc. Automated calls help maintain her treasured independence, and they take a bit of stress and pressure off of the family.

3. "Junior" doesn't like to stop playing video games to do homework. Mom and Dad are simply tired of nagging about it every afternoon. The confrontations are counter-productive and stressful. Why not schedule an automated phone call especially to remind "Junior" that it's time to put down the game controls and hit the books. Again, automated calls are non-judgmental and the request or directive is coming from a "third party" that "Junior" can't argue with.

4. "Auntie May" lives alone and is very independent, even though she's nearly blind and a bit hard-of-hearing. She needs to take very important medications at the same time every day for best results. She's tried several normal reminder alarms, but they aren't loud enough so they don't work. However, she has the volume turned way up on the phone ringer and hears it just fine. With an automated call, when the phone rings and she answers it, a special voice message will tell her that it's time to take her pills.

You can listen to an audio sample of a basic phone reminder. And you can also change any of your custom messages every day or every week if you want - just to keep it interesting and maybe even fun. Will it help? We think so. And it doesn't cost a thing to try it out.