Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Advice on being a caregiver to my mom (self.Blind)
submitted by egglan
I recently started spending more time with my parents since they are getting older and need more help around the house. My mother is recently blind due to diabetes.
We are currently using Amazon's Alexa for her to call my phone if she needs anything. The pain point I'm having is there was a service outage with comcast some days ago and my mom needed my help and I couldn't be reached as I was working on my things in the garage.
I'm very new to helping my mom and her recent complete loss of vision, is there any device that is recommended for her to contact me easily? Thinking out loud, a whistle came to mind but I want something a little more discreet. Any suggestions are extremely helpful. Thank you.
We are currently using Amazon's Alexa for her to call my phone if she needs anything. The pain point I'm having is there was a service outage with comcast some days ago and my mom needed my help and I couldn't be reached as I was working on my things in the garage.
I'm very new to helping my mom and her recent complete loss of vision, is there any device that is recommended for her to contact me easily? Thinking out loud, a whistle came to mind but I want something a little more discreet. Any suggestions are extremely helpful. Thank you.
soselections 5 points 2y ago
I really feel for your mom and this situation generally. I'm a young type one diabetic that unfortunately got proliferative diabetic retinopathy when I was 19, along with macular edema after eye surgery.
I'm low vision, but still have quite a bit of useable vision. However, what I found to be liberating is vision training. I mean it, cane training works. There's no reason your mom shouldn't start training, she will learn how to be (at least to a certain degree) independent again. Then the options you're looking for will only be on an emergency basis.
Losing vision is such a grieving and sucky process, but your mom might feel better when she gets some independence back with vision training. Especially if she's new to this loss and it was sudden. I also recommend some counseling so her thoughts and feelings on this also get addressed.
I contacted my states "Department of services for the blind" and they put me in touch with a trainer. It's been a transformative venture for me. That being said, I had already gone thru the grieving process and accepted the white cane as my freedom stick.
I'm low vision, but still have quite a bit of useable vision. However, what I found to be liberating is vision training. I mean it, cane training works. There's no reason your mom shouldn't start training, she will learn how to be (at least to a certain degree) independent again. Then the options you're looking for will only be on an emergency basis.
Losing vision is such a grieving and sucky process, but your mom might feel better when she gets some independence back with vision training. Especially if she's new to this loss and it was sudden. I also recommend some counseling so her thoughts and feelings on this also get addressed.
I contacted my states "Department of services for the blind" and they put me in touch with a trainer. It's been a transformative venture for me. That being said, I had already gone thru the grieving process and accepted the white cane as my freedom stick.
egglan [OP] 3 points 2y ago
That is awesome advice. I'm going to find a trainer asap!
xmachinaxxx 4 points 2y ago
Maybe walkie talkies?
If you made sure to put near her so she can push the button when you know you won’t be within earshot.
Edit added words
If you made sure to put near her so she can push the button when you know you won’t be within earshot.
Edit added words
egglan [OP] 1 points 2y ago
yeah, that sounds like the most viable option. time to look into wearable walkies if they have them
retrolental_morose 2 points 2y ago
Can't you put an Echo of your own in the garage? Coupled with the app, she can call you direct, you can drop-in on her etc.
egglan [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Needs wifi is the problem. I just ordered some walkies.
igloolafayette 2 points 2y ago
Is she comfortable using Siri or the Android assistant to call? “Hey, Siri, call egglan” on iPhone. I’m sure it’s similar on Android.
egglan [OP] 2 points 2y ago
She is, but we had a wifi outage and mobile signal is awful here
niamhweking 2 points 2y ago
I ring a bell at the back door to "summon " my husband for dinner! Reception isn't always great when he's out in the barns/sheds. Neither of us are VI btw
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