What could help my mom make phone calls more easily?

2 answers | Last updated: Jan 13, 2011
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An anonymous caregiver asked...
My mom had a stroke 3 months ago. It has impaired her speech, so obviously she is having difficulty communicating. Being able to read and write comes and goes therefore, dialing a phone number is impossible. We bought her a speed dial phone, but most of her friends are not on it. Is there any piece of equipment that could help her call someone?
 

Caring.com User - Laurie Orlov
Caring.com Expert
A
Laurie M. Orlov is a certified Florida long-term care ombudsman and the author of When Your Parents Need Elder Care: Lessons from the...
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Laurie Orlov said...

As your mom recovers her speech and writing ability after her stroke, she may still need some assistance. One way to help make phone calls, is a picture phone - See also:
How to Communicate Better With Someone Who Has Early-Stage Alzheimer's

See all 25 questions about Common Caregiving Challenges
in which pictures of her friends or relatives are on the front of the telephone, associated with their phone numbers. There are quite a few of these telephones (as well as amplified phones) at the website http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/equipment/telephones/specialty-telephones/picture-phones.html.

SmithGear has also has large button phones (ClearSounds Talk500 is especially impressive, with large screen or talking caller ID, memory buttons, and 64 numbers of Caller ID history. That might be the best way for you to help set up her phone so that she doesn't have to remember or use telephone numbers of those people who are calling her.

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JoeE71 said...

Don't know when you asked this question, but I thought I'd give an answer anyway.
FotoDialer is something I have found to be most useful. FotoDialer dials others by pressing a button next to the wallet-sized photo of the person you want to call. It connects into the existing analog phone so you don't need to purchase a new phone. Their are 24 numbers and it is easy to use. Dialing by photo seems like it would work wonders for your Mom. Good luck! http://www.PhotoDialer.com

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