<p>My parents would not be happy I referred to them as elderly, but at 85 and 83 they are not middle ages ;)</p>
<p>After years of trying to get them an iPad they finally decided they want one. It was only after we Facetimed with both my kids at Thanksgiving that my parents wanted one; my daughter lives in London and my son is out of state in residency, so neither are able to come visit. I went ahead and bought the 1st generation of the Air at a decent price. Now I need to get it set up for them.</p>
<p>My mother will mostly use it to play games such as mahjong and bridge; my dad will check email and surf from his recliner! I am looking for suggestions of apps that might be appealing to one or both of them. I haven’t looked yet, but there are games I have that I think they might like. My father loves to do the Jumble in the newpaper so I am hoping there is something similar. I will add our local news and newspaper apps as well as a few national one, the weather channel, Viber so they can talk to my daugher, maybe TuneIn Radio and Podcast. Looking for suggestions of other Apps.</p>
<p>Both of my parents still use AOL which I personally hate. Anyone know how similar AOL is on the iPad compared to a desktop computer? When my mother has had to check mail not directly though AOL, she has hated how it looks. I know she will have to get use to the difference.</p>
<p>We bought my mom an iPad last spring for her 85th birthday so she could Facetime with her new great grandson. She bought herself an iphone so everything could be synced. For a week or so after all she complained about was that the apps on ipad/phone were not nearly as good and not nearly as many as she had on her Galaxy. I thought I was never going to hear the end of it. </p>
<p>The best gift i ever got for my mom is an iPad. The 2nd best gift i ever got for her is one for my dad (so he would stop bugging her to borrow hers). When they go to the mall, she can deposit him at a coffee shop w wifi, so she can shop.</p>
<p>Seriously! My mother couldn’t even figure out how to hang up a call on her old cell phone, which was a dumb phone. The only thing she uses her computer for now is youtube, although she’s pretty adept at that.</p>
<p>OP, the one thing I would caution is that the very elderly can be sitting ducks for online scams, especially phishers. You may want to put some really good filters on the email.</p>
<p>My MIL just turned 90 this month and has been an iPhone owner for a year. She complains a good bit about her friends who can barely handle their old flip phone and that when they all go out, she is the one that has to arrange for Uber as she is the only one with a smart phone! Sometimes I have to wonder if she hurts her back by patting it so much ;)</p>
<p>LOL good for her! My mom wanted a smart phone a few months back because everyone else in the family has one and she sees them on TV. She wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to do with it.</p>
Definitely not! Every time i visit them, i have to reteach them something i thought they understood the last visit.</p>
<p>Am very grateful for opportunity for an engaging activity to help them stay mentally fit. I am amazed that my dad even has a blog now-- w followers! </p>
<p>My mom likes to watch videos on her iPad when she walks on the treadmill. </p>
<p>My mom likes the google ap with the microphone. She doesn’t see well, so it is easier to ask it a question than type. She especially likes it for helping with crossword clues.</p>
<p>I have AOL and I use my iPad all the time for it. You just have to set up the mail to come to the AOL account on the iPad. It’s not hard to do. The look is different but the functions are the same.</p>
<p>My mom is incredible. She figured out her first smart phone with no help from anyone (and there are no manuals anymore.) </p>
<p>When my S and his friend stayed at my parent’s house over break two years ago - the friend couldn’t believe my mom was walking around with her bluetooth earbud in. </p>
<p>She never even had a computer - only web TV (which was beyond awful) before she got her first smart phone. She learned to do everything on her phone. She can even swype. </p>
<p>My father, OTOH, can’t even figure out how to answer his phone. He is completely helpless. I think it was because he had secretaries who did everything for him. </p>
<p>I think getting my dad an iPad has prolonged his life. I got it for him when he was very depressed and going through cancer therapy. He was staying in bed all day and really down and feeling bad physically. At first he wanted nothing to do with it. I had to train my mom over the phone how to use it. She is pretty good with computers, but the whole swiping fingers thing was new to her. She introduced it to him and then sent me email a couple of days later saying “he’s using it!!” Now he never parts from it. He reads books on it, watches the news, surfs the web. He especially loves to “travel” using Google Earth. He was 80 when I got it for him and my mom was 82.</p>
<p>@emilybee, lol my dad is also hopeless. I think my mom picks it up readily because she is patient & humble and, therefore, doesn’t hesitate to ask for help.</p>
<p>My mother is also very patient and she never gives up on anything. If there is a problem with anything she will work on it and work on it until she has figured it out and solved. She has a bit of a one track mind when faced with a problem. She can never just leave something for another day or wait/ask for help. I have that same trait - which is why dinner last night was overcooked. I had to figure out something and ignored the timer going off until I got it sorted. </p>
<p>My father would never ask for help. He will just tell someone to do it for him. His secretaries waited on him hand and foot. </p>
<p>My dad has always been fascinated with my iPhone and wants to get one; I have been against it. First of all, he only uses his cell phone to call my mother when he is out running errands for her; he will call her 4 times from the grocery store! He does not have a need to have internet while out and about and an iPhone would only be a distraction to him. He is fairly computer savvy and will figure out something if he doesn’t already know; I am thinking an iPad will be a happy compromise.</p>
<p>My mother on the other hand will call me and tell me she can’t find something on her computer, lets say in google. I will walk her through it for the 50th time over the phone, and she will say it doesn’t come up; she still gets confused with the address bar and the search bar! Her laptop is on its last leg, so the iPad will mostly be for her, but I am hoping my dad gets to use it some, otherwise I see a second one being added. </p>
<p>Dad sits for hours on his desktop computer; not really sure what he is actually doing although he is a two finger typer, so everything takes longer for him. He likes to research medical conditions and things of interest; I figure it keeps his mind active. Mom parks herself on the sofa when not cooking and plays games on her laptop. The funny thing is, my mom is the more mobile of the two yet she has my dad run all the errand because according to her, he wants to. Dad has Parkinsons, but it really hasn’t slowed him down too much, the bad heart gives him more trouble.</p>
<p>Well I am off to start getting this iPad ready so I can take it to them tomorrow. I hope I can be patient with them while teaching them; not one of my better qualities Maybe I should buy one of those user guide books, like iPad for Dummies! Might have to look while at Target today or order on Amazon.</p>
<p>When my family delivered the new iPad to the elders, it included a few applications we thoght they would like…including Pandora…and they do love that one!</p>
<p>I’d get a protective case for the tablets, especially if the individual concerned tends to drop/be rough with electronics. This goes for folks of all ages. </p>
<p>This is so apt! Got mom an iPad a couple of years ago - she loves it! She’s on facebook so she can see pictures that I or the grandkids post. She is also incredibly patient and will try best to learn and will ask if she has problems. Dad, on the other hand, can’t be bothered. He will ask her to look up stuff on the internet for him instead. He recently had a minor stroke and has some short term memory loss issues - would be great if he would play some games on the iPad - just to keep him busy and a bit agile mentally. But can’t get him to go there at all…</p>
<p>My 91 year old step FIL moved from a pre-historic, virus laden computer to an iPad with our help. What a difference it has made for him. He is a voracious reader and in generally good health, while MIL is non-ambulatory in a nursing home. The iPad helps keep him engaged, even as he visits and tends MIL. We love that he can send us photos via email from it. </p>
<p>Many libraries have computer and tablet classes specifically for seniors. There are also inexpensive ways to have 1:1 help if family is not local- some high schoolers would be good at practicing with seniors. In-laws don’t live near family, but it seems that every time someone visits, a few new skills or apps get added into the mix. The young adult grandchildren have been great at this. </p>
<p>He likes radar weather apps so he can check location of predicted thunder storms also. </p>
Maybe I should buy one of those user guide books, like iPad for Dummies! Might have to look while at Target today or order on Amazon.</p>