Digital Access for Seniors: My Trip to Chicago
My almost 91-year-old parents in Chicago have had a Netflix subscription for a very long time that could be utilized on their two computers, one mini iPad and two smartphones as well as two televisions if they knew how to use Netflix. I flew to Chicago from Los Angeles in part to teach my parents how to watch Netflix on their various “smart” devices.
I especially wanted my hearing impaired mother to be able to watch TV shows on her mini iPad (after getting the free Netflix app) and to watch with closed captions. (Her vision is not good enough to watch with closed captions on her televisions.)
She has now watched an episode of “Murder She Wrote” on her iPad and really enjoyed this experience. (She sat in a comfortable chair and held her lightweight mini iPad at the best angle for her.) Plus I created for her a “My List” of shows I have watched on Netflix that I think she will enjoy.
What I find most interesting about this ongoing experience (now working remotely with my father so he can watch a movie on his computer via his Amazon Prime membership) is how these “smart” devices, which many think of as appealing to younger people, can be particularly beneficial for seniors.
I also taught my mother how to tell whether a Kindle ebook on Amazon is available to read for free via her Kindle Unlimited subscription or her Amazon Prime membership. And to demonstrate this I had her download my new fantasy adventure story ROAD TO ZANZICA, which is free via both Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime. See amzn.com/B015M48QOK
(Although both my parents also have Kindle ebook readers, Amazon makes it very easy for people to read Kindle ebooks on smartphones, tablets, and computers. See https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp)
These digital/tech options can truly improve the quality of life for seniors as well as others not familiar with these opportunities. Thus, if you are good at these options, I recommend that you share your expertise with others who could benefit.
© 2015 Miller Mosaic LLC
Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is the author of fiction and nonfiction books/ebooks, including HOW TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PREP FOR COLLEGE and the romantic suspense spy thriller CIA FALL GUY, as well as newly written books not yet published. She can be reached at pzmiller@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing this Phyllis. Not sure if we can get Netflix in Japan, but the chance to watch movies on an iPad or even a mini iPad sound great.
George — If you have a membership in Amazon Prime from Amazon’s Japan site, you could watch streaming movies via Amazon Video on your iPad or mini iPad. And, of course, you can also watch streaming videos from YouTube.