Father’s Day Gift Guide

“When you meet your kids you realize that they deserve great parents. And then you have your marching orders and you have to try and become the person that they deserve.”- Ryan Gosling 

Dads are the rock of the family and are our first and most powerful male role model.  You may have inherited your dad’s sense of humor, work ethic or love of a sports team.  This Father’s Day, explore the ways that tech devices can help make your dad’s life easier and even more fun.

If dad’s cell phone has seen better days, upgrading to a new one is a thoughtful gift, as staying in touch is essential for his safety as well as your peace of mind. There are lots of options in smartphones on the market so making sure that you find one with senior friendly features is important.  These elements come into play with everyday use.

• How big is the screen size? Think about the brightness and text size options as well, exploring possibilities that allow you to make the font size larger if needed.
• Is the volume loud enough?  Ensure that he can hear incoming calls as well as the level of conversations.
• Are the buttons easy to navigate?  Seek out ergonomic designs that are natural to handle and use.
• Is it equipped with a virtual assistant like Cortana or Siri?  Spoken commands can help someone with dexterity issues.

Keep in mind that there are phones and plans specifically designed for seniors that include options like medical alert capabilities, enhanced battery life and spam call blocker technology.  With some research, you can find just the right device.

If your dad has mobility or back issues, a handy device like a Foot Funnel Shoe Horn can make getting dressed an easier task.  This simple device is placed on a shoe, opening up the footwear and guiding the foot into the shoe without the need to bend down.  When finished, just tug on the attached lanyard to retrieve it without leaning over.

If staying on top of medication feels like a full time job for your dad, a proactive pill dispenser can be a great tool.  The Hero pill dispenser is small but powerful.  This small countertop device stores, sorts and dispenses up to 10 different medications for 90 days.  No need to count or sort anything first. Simply pour pills into a cartridge and insert into the dispenser and the companion app alerts when it is time to take a dose.

Most importantly, honor your dad this Father’s Day with a phone call, handwritten card, his favorite dinner or a surprise visit.

When your dad, mom or any relative needs help in finding senior living options, CarePatrol’s Senior Care Advisors can make the process less stressful for the whole family.  We know the senior living space and our services are available at no cost to you.  When you need a trusted guide, CarePatrol is here to help.