Regular or kids-version of Kindle Fire for brain damaged adult?

[Pegasus]

So, I want to get a brain damaged adult a Kindle Fire to use in the nursing home to pass the time playing simple games, watching movies, etc.  Since items can easily disappear at such facilities, I'd like to keep the cost as low as possible.

 

Can anyone advise on any of the following:

 

1. The kid-proof case and two-year replacement if broken that come with the kid version are appealing but add to the cost. The kid-content app is not needed/wanted. I can pick up the most basic Kindle Fire at about half the cost and plan to keep my eyes out for sales over the next couple of weeks which should bring the cost down even more.  I found a likely looking rubber cover for about $10 with good reviews. Thoughts?

 

2. Should I set up the device under my own Amazon account so that I can easily help load content, etc.?  Would I still be able to lock out any ability to make purchases, etc. from the device itself?  Would you recommend setting up a new Amazon account for the relative?  That one wouldn't have any credit cards tied to it so no purchases would be possible.

 

3. All the current Kindle Fires in my immediate family load ads. However, I'm considering paying to have the ad-free version for the relative so they don't have to mess with getting past the ad screen.  I think they could probably learn how to do so but want to make it as simple as possible.

 

Thank you!

Peggy

[Ottakee]

If they are generally careful with their things then the regular one would be just fine. Best Buy will have it on Black Friday for $29...so you could get a 2nd as a back up and still be cheaper.

[Corraleno]

I would recommend getting a regular cheap one, and giving the relative their own Amazon account without a credit card. (Or you could include a reloadable CC with a bit of money on it for games & apps, and add to it as needed.)

 

Two Christmases ago I gave an elderly developmentally-disabled relative a Kindle with a kid's account linked to my Amazon account. I thought that would be perfect for him, because he likes kid's games and videos, and I figured that having it connected to my Amazon account would mean I could load new videos and games on it for him. 

 

It was a total nightmare — he was constantly pushing buttons and getting into screens he couldn't get out of, and no one at the assisted living place could really help him. I was literally having to go and reset his Kindle 2-3 times/wk, and I finally gave up and told him it was broken.  :(

[Pegasus]

Thank you!  This is very helpful.  

[JFSinIL]

I think whatever device you get, use a engraving pen and write the person's name on it, maybe also with a Magic Marker, and if you can order it in a loud color, that helps too. Oh, and stickers of his/her fav characters.  You are not only making sure the other residents know it is "Bill's" device, you are also making it look less enticing to any potentially sticky fingered aide.  I have a bright blue Kindle Fire and nobody else here picks up Mom's Fire by accident.  DS lives in a group home now (26-year-old with autism) and his iPad Air has his name engraved on it, also only I have the code to unlock restrictions and add/delete apps, also I preset the device to not allow porn etc. .  He can't make any purchases since he doesn't have the passwords.   I put all the icons for stuff that automatically came with the iPad that he won't use into a single small square on the first screen - all his apps are on the second screen and on.  Now, the iPad is tied to the Cloud,and in Photos we both get copies of what the other has shot - I can see he likes to save images from the odd cakes and cookies he creates in certain kid baking apps, also he enjoys taking photos of himself and editing them to make him took like a pirate or monster etc.  Plus he saves screenshots of Keira KNightly he finds on YouTube so I know who his crush is ;-)

 

Now, Joe can handle his iPad fine.  His XBox 360 and his one game he likes to play is more of a problem. While he was at home I could turn it on and get the game going for him, and peeking in his room periodically see if he was stuck and in need of help.  Since I am half an hour away now, I have taken tons of photos (with my iPad) of all the screen images of turning on the game, saving, etc.  I took photos of the controller, with little white arrows pointing to individual buttons,  and made 4x6 photos at Walgreens. 

 

I cut and pasted photos, and wrote in large, simple words, how to turn the XBox on, how to load the game and what to do as each start screen came up, etc.  Each page went into a plastic page sleeve and into a small binder.  Joe now can flip through pages to SEE how to save the game, or select and load, etc.  You could make a simple cheat sheet booklet like this to help your person know how to turn on, turn off, select, pause, etc. whatever you put on his device.

 

I also wrote out a page of how to reboot Joe's iPad - in case his aides have to help him.  But his iPad would be hard to "borrow" and use since I have the passcodes etc.  When I ordered it (used, refurbished) from Apple I got it engraved "Joe's Precious" on the back.

 

You could also look for refurbished older models of whatever device you get - less $ to lose should something happen to it, or the person simply be unable to use it.

 

Good luck!

 

Oh, and I almost got this for my Dad (but he passed from Alzheimers before I could manage it) look for this on Amazon.

The Simple Music Player - MP3 music box for Alzheimer's and dementia.

 

Joe is still able to access his watchlist of videos at Amazon and his shows/films under his profile at Netflix as I still have his iPad logged onto my account.  How you manage this at your person's facility will depend on whether or not they even have internet wifi there for the residents.  Not everyplace does.  Find this out first!!!!  What you load onto the device before handing it over depends on wifi there.  You could preload a lot of simple fun games, puzzles, etc. but nothing that requires wifi if it won't be available.  Then when there, make sure the device is logged on to the wifi.  Otherwise you will need to periodically take the device elsewhere to update it, or add more apps, etc.

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by JFSinIL

[Pegasus]

I would recommend getting a regular cheap one, and giving the relative their own Amazon account without a credit card. (Or you could include a reloadable CC with a bit of money on it for games & apps, and add to it as needed.)

 

Two Christmases ago I gave an elderly developmentally-disabled relative a Kindle with a kid's account linked to my Amazon account. I thought that would be perfect for him, because he likes kid's games and videos, and I figured that having it connected to my Amazon account would mean I could load new videos and games on it for him. 

 

It was a total nightmare — he was constantly pushing buttons and getting into screens he couldn't get out of, and no one at the assisted living place could really help him. I was literally having to go and reset his Kindle 2-3 times/wk, and I finally gave up and told him it was broken.  :(

 

You experience is very much appreciated.  I certainly won't be able to go multiple times a week to help with the device.  I would need to keep it as simple as possible.

 

I think whatever device you get, use a engraving pen and write the person's name on it, maybe also with a Magic Marker, and if you can order it in a loud color, that helps too. Oh, and stickers of his/her fav characters.  You are not only making sure the other residents know it is "Bill's" device, you are also making it look less enticing to any potentially sticky fingered aide.  I have a bright blue Kindle Fire and nobody else here picks up Mom's Fire by accident.  DS lives in a group home now (26-year-old with autism) and his iPad Air has his name engraved on it, also only I have the code to unlock restrictions and add/delete apps, also I preset the device to not allow porn etc. .  He can't make any purchases since he doesn't have the passwords.   I put all the icons for stuff that automatically came with the iPad that he won't use into a single small square on the first screen - all his apps are on the second screen and on.  Now, the iPad is tied to the Cloud,and in Photos we both get copies of what the other has shot - I can see he likes to save images from the odd cakes and cookies he creates in certain kid baking apps, also he enjoys taking photos of himself and editing them to make him took like a pirate or monster etc.  Plus he saves screenshots of Keira KNightly he finds on YouTube so I know who his crush is ;-)

 

Now, Joe can handle his iPad fine.  His XBox 360 and his one game he likes to play is more of a problem. While he was at home I could turn it on and get the game going for him, and peeking in his room periodically see if he was stuck and in need of help.  Since I am half an hour away now, I have taken tons of photos (with my iPad) of all the screen images of turning on the game, saving, etc.  I took photos of the controller, with little white arrows pointing to individual buttons,  and made 4x6 photos at Walgreens. 

 

I cut and pasted photos, and wrote in large, simple words, how to turn the XBox on, how to load the game and what to do as each start screen came up, etc.  Each page went into a plastic page sleeve and into a small binder.  Joe now can flip through pages to SEE how to save the game, or select and load, etc.  You could make a simple cheat sheet booklet like this to help your person know how to turn on, turn off, select, pause, etc. whatever you put on his device.

 

I also wrote out a page of how to reboot Joe's iPad - in case his aides have to help him.  But his iPad would be hard to "borrow" and use since I have the passcodes etc.  When I ordered it (used, refurbished) from Apple I got it engraved "Joe's Precious" on the back.

 

You could also look for refurbished older models of whatever device you get - less $ to lose should something happen to it, or the person simply be unable to use it.

 

Good luck!

 

Oh, and I almost got this for my Dad (but he passed from Alzheimers before I could manage it) look for this on Amazon.

The Simple Music Player - MP3 music box for Alzheimer's and dementia.

 

Joe is still able to access his watchlist of videos at Amazon and his shows/films under his profile at Netflix as I still have his iPad logged onto my account.  How you manage this at your person's facility will depend on whether or not they even have internet wifi there for the residents.  Not everyplace does.  Find this out first!!!!  What you load onto the device before handing it over depends on wifi there.  You could preload a lot of simple fun games, puzzles, etc. but nothing that requires wifi if it won't be available.  Then when there, make sure the device is logged on to the wifi.  Otherwise you will need to periodically take the device elsewhere to update it, or add more apps, etc.

 

They do have wifi. I took my own Kindle Fire with me and tried it out and let the resident try one of my games to see if he would even be interested.  Photos/screenshots and simple instructions is a great idea.  Appreciate tips on how to maintain control while keeping it simple for the user.  Personalization ideas for the device is great as well.

[Amber in SJ]

We just bought my MIL who is in a residence home  a refurbed mini ipad.  We set it up so the only things on her first screen are Facebook, Photos, Facetime, her Gmail & a couple games she wanted to try.  Everything else is locked down with parental controls as tightly as possible.

 

We really only wanted her to be able to see the grandkids on Facebook & be able to Facetime.  On our last visit we spent several hours teaching her how to use it.  We followed up several weeks later on her cell phone walking her through how to connect to Facetime so we could sing her Happy Birthday.

 

Unfortunately she became convinced that computer tablets cause epilepsy and she called Dh to ask him why are we trying to give her epilepsy.  *sigh*

 

She told Dh she might trade it for a big box fan because sometimes her room is stuffy.  We sent her a box fan via Amazon & told her if she wants to get rid of the ipad we will pay for it to be returned to us, but who knows what will happen.

 

Amber in SJ