Alexa, thanks for the music
About two years ago, I received a call from my mother. “You know,” she said, “that Alexa really works. I was feeling down, so I told Alexa to play some good music, and that’s exactly what she did. Within minutes, I felt so much better!”
Alexa wasn’t exactly a friend, but being in my mother’s home – it made both her and I feel better. This was at least part of what I hoped would happen when I first went shopping for an Echo device. Websites focused on senior care are full of advice on how to add Amazon smart speakers as a useful tool, and Amazon’s technology is designed to make the technology accessible and accessible – goals that are often, though not always, successful.
My mother grew up at a time when having a home phone was new and exciting
Here’s how it started. My mother had lived most of her life as a teacher in the NYC public school system, an intelligent woman, with a degree in education, progressive political views, and the sometimes annoying ability to take charge of almost any situation. But now he was entering his 90s and starting to have serious problems with his health and his short-term memory. Despite his determination to remain independent as long as possible – by playing games on his computer, keeping up with the news, and writing extensive journals of his daily activities – this greatly affected his ability to perform simple tasks, such as reading. new skills, and independent living.
We were able to hire a helper to help her during the daytime hours – make meals, clean, and help with other tasks that she couldn’t do herself now. But my mother was also stubborn and refused to have anyone there at night or to put on any kind of emergency button in case she needed help. I lived about 40 minutes away and only spent weekends with him. We needed some way to make sure he was okay when he was the only person in the apartment.
So I got him an Amazon Echo Show 8 smart display in hopes that it could be the start of a smart home system that could help keep him safe and active. It all depended on whether my mother, who grew up when having a home phone was new and exciting, would welcome this call. The Echo’s eight-inch screen was large enough for easy viewing but small enough not to overwhelm the room. He could communicate with a personal assistant, while the camera allowed me to communicate with him remotely. I set it up and introduced her to Alexa.
And – it worked. Kind of.
I thought we could start by using it as a form of visual communication. That was quite a failure. My mother used to call people on the phone, and while she was fascinated by the whole “see who you’re talking to” concept, she had no desire to use it herself. “It’s not for me,” he said firmly.
That’s rightI thought, there always is The “check-in” feature.. I could use it to monitor what is happening in the apartment. However, the Echo Show was placed in a small room off the kitchen that we called “The Den” where my mother ate, wrote in her book, and spent most of her time – and because of that, it was only possible. “they” in that room and in the kitchen. At one point I suggested I put cameras in the apartment, and I got one look from her – which made me feel like I was five years old again. A camera in the room? It’s impossible.
But luckily, there were things the Echo helped with. Around that time, my mother’s ancient bedside radio finally died. With some trepidation, I switched to an Echo Dot for a watch – and was delighted when my mum told me she loved it! Not only could she see the time but she also asked Alexa what the weather was like, right in her bed. And what made me happy was that I was able to teach her to shout, “Alexa, call Barbara” if she needs me in an emergency. Between Dot and Show, Alexa could now respond no matter where mom was in the house — including the bathroom with the door closed. (I checked.) He only used the feature a few times, and it wasn’t for an actual emergency, but he was there “just in case.”
However, in the end the most important gift the two Echoes gave my mother was music.
Decades ago, my parents bought what was then the latest in audio technology: a modular stereo system that included a turntable, receiver, AM/FM radio, and cassette player. Now it remains unused, as it is too complicated for the mother to deal with. But with Echo, he could play music whenever he wanted. He didn’t even need to remember the names of his favorite songs or artists he used to like. All he had to do was say, “Alexa, play quiet music,” or “Alexa, play upbeat music.” Alexa would play classic blues or folk or big band music. And I would get a call about how he listened to his music and how it made him happy.
Did the two Echos do everything I hoped they would? Yes, yes and no. They certainly give mom an easy and friendly way to get information and reminders. More importantly, they gave me a way to contact me in an emergency. But I never found time to install other smart programs that were available. At least at that time, it was a very difficult task to deal with.
In fact, Amazon has tried to extend the use of its smart devices to the elderly. I’ve never tried Amazon’s $20-a-month Alexa Together service, which connects to its 24/7 emergency service — and it apparently wasn’t very successful, as it was discontinued in June of this year. I might have chosen the less expensive Emergency Assistant feature, which allows users to contact emergency services and was launched last September. But by that time, my mother was receiving round-the-clock care from family and helpers and she no longer needed it.
Still, the Echo was nice to have. Towards the end of her life, when my mother was bedridden and unable to speak, I would sit next to her and say, “Alexa, play Woody Guthrie” or “Alexa, play Bessie Smith” or “Alexa, play Count Basie.” The music would start, and my mother would smile — and , for a while, he felt better. And while Amazon’s smart speaker wasn’t the perfect answer to all of our needs, for those few times, I’ll always be thankful for Alexa.
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