Mother’s Day Gift Guide

“Mothers are like glue. Even when you can’t see them, they’re still holding the family together.”—Susan Gale

Your first cheerleader, your staunchest protector, and your biggest fan – that’s your mom!  Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so thinking of ways to delight her as well as make her day-to-day life easier is always in fashion.  Here are some tech suggestions that can surprise her this year:

A tablet is a wonderful electronic device to help your Mom stay in touch with family, play stimulating games, read books, stream movies, and check email.  One thing to remember, no matter who the manufacturer, is to opt for a large screen for easy viewing.

• Apple iPads are available in a variety of screen sizes and storage capacities while giving users the ability to FaceTime with friends or family around the corner or across the country.
• Amazon’s Fire Tablets are available at cost-effective prices, created with great battery life, and can integrate with Alexa.
• Samsung Galaxy tablets are slim and have full immersion elements for optimal viewing of movies.

Designed specifically for the aging adults in our life is GrandPad, a high-tech tablet for anyone who may not feel comfortable with technology.  Simple to operate, it arrives pre-programmed with features like an intuitive interface for video chatting and built-in 4G LTE, so connecting to WiFi is never a concern.  Large buttons make navigating simple, and through the private family network that comes with the subscription, family members can update phone numbers or share photos with elevated privacy.  Mom can enjoy her favorite music and send voice emails anytime.

Pets can improve our lives in so many ways by helping deter loneliness and social isolation.  Joy for All animatronic pets are a great option for mothers who are not able to care for an animal due to memory impairment, or other health conditions.  Adorable cats, dogs, and birds are wonderful companions and increase cognitive stimulation.  With realistic feel and sounds plus built-in sensors that are designed for comfort and respond to motion and touch, these gems can bring joy to your mom’s life each day.

Give the gift of health with a fitness tracker.  With measurable data that can show valuable information like resting heart rate, step count, stress level, and sleep metrics, wearable fitness trackers are informative and stylish.  There are many brands and types on the market, but there are some things to consider while doing your research:

• What activities will your mom use it for?  For someone who swims, make sure it is water resistant.  For someone who exercises outside, ensure that the screen is big enough and glare-free.
• What is her tech style?  Determine if she would like advanced features like text notifications or if she would enjoy the basics like the number of steps reached.
• How user friendly is it?  Ensure that the level of interaction matches your mother’s ease of use with technology on a daily basis so she’ll enjoy it rather than feel overwhelmed by it.

Most of all, celebrate your mom on Mother’s Day with a call, a hug, a family dinner, or anything else that will put a smile on her face.

When living at home is no longer a safe option for your mom, CarePatrol is here to help. Our local care advisors help you find the right senior care solution for them and stand by your side throughout the process and beyond. Contact us if you seek a trusted partner in understanding the various senior care options available.