Follow
Share

I’d like my mom to be able to stream some movies on her tv, but she has demonstrated that she can’t manage the typical multi remotes, switching HDMI to access Roku, navigating to choose a movie, etc. We had to dumb things down to a super simple remote, and two cable channels (MSNBC and PBS). Though she would have trouble following a typical plot, she’s expressed her desire to watch a movie now and then, so I’d like to find a way to give her easy access to a movie streaming channel like Netflix or Amazon Prime. Has anyone found a solution? She lives independently in a CCRC, and I visit her about once a week.

I put your question into ChatGPT because I am also curious about this...

Answer:

JubileeTV is designed for older adults who have difficulty operating modern TVs. The important feature for your situation is that you can control your mom's television remotely from your own phone. You can see what is on her TV screen, change channels, adjust the volume, switch to streaming, and even start a Netflix program for her while you're somewhere else.

For streaming, JubileeTV recommends using a separate Roku player connected through its system. With Roku, Netflix and Prime Video can be made favorites, and the system can launch those apps directly. More importantly for your mom, you can send a specific Netflix movie or Amazon Prime program from your phone and have it begin playing on her TV.

That last capability sounds particularly useful for her. Instead of expecting her to do:

TV → Input → Roku → Netflix → profile → search → movie → play
you could call her and say, “Mom, I'm going to put a movie on for you,” and start it remotely.

Her everyday TV could remain very simple.

You don't necessarily have to turn her television into a complicated streaming setup. JubileeTV has a simplified mode specifically intended for people with cognitive difficulties. It can eliminate input switching and consolidate cable and streaming into the same system.

They even make a six-button remote with only Power, Volume +/−, Mute and Channel +/−. However, there's an important catch: that particular six-button mode is intended for ordinary cable/satellite viewing and doesn't itself control streaming devices.

So I'd approach this differently: don't make your mom responsible for finding the movies. Preserve the very simple television experience she's currently successful with. When she wants a movie, you remotely put one on for her.

A cheaper alternative.

You could also install a Roku and use a Roku Voice Remote. Roku's voice remote can control TV power and volume as well as the Roku, and voice search can find entertainment by title, actor or director.

But from what you've described, I don't think that solves the real problem. She would still encounter menus, apps, profiles, selections and occasional unexpected screens. Even voice control can become confusing when the TV doesn't respond exactly as expected.

JubileeTV's remote-caregiver capability is the significant difference. Since you visit about once a week, you could initially set everything up and then manage the inevitable TV problems remotely instead of having to drive over there.

One thing I would check before buying it: what cable provider and cable box she currently has. JubileeTV supports a specific list of cable/satellite providers, and I don't want to recommend a setup that would interfere with the wonderfully simple two-channel arrangement you've already created for her.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to Geaton777
Report

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter