Digital Skills For Carers

More and more people are turning to voice enabled devices which can be super helpful if the person we care for is in another room. These are simply ‘smart devices’ which we can speak to, either to ask for information or ask them to do something. Here's a quick guide to the most popular smart speakers if we’d like to explore what’s available.

Whilst these smart devices are great at playing music when asked, there are many other ways we can use them.
 

For example, we can ask them:

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• What the weather or time is (for any location around the world)

• Set a reminder (to go on a walk, or take medication)

• To set a timer

• For general information

• Turn on the lights

• Create and manage shopping lists (or even add something to our basket on Amazon if we’re using an Alexa) 

• Open the curtains

• Read our children a book

• To call someone (including emergency services)

• Text someone that we’re on our way home

• Find accessible places to go or eat

• Do daily quiz type questions (a family treat!)

• Make an announcement to someone else in a different room (i.e. if they’d like tea)

• Finding a misplaced phone by asking our device to ring us

• Translate speech

• Pop the kettle on for us if connected to a smart kettle
   

The low cost of these smart devices is also a real benefit and means we can have them in multiple rooms. The best devices are sold from Amazon and Google and depending on who we already have accounts with, is largely the biggest factor when choosing.

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💡Top tip: We don’t always need to buy brand new. Back Market is a great place to find refurbished smart devices at lower prices, helping us save money while still getting good-quality smart devices.

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Best for shopping - Amazon’s Echo

Perhaps we’ve heard of Alexa. This is the voice of the virtual assistant to Amazon’s product Echo. There are a variety of different devices available starting from £39, and some include screens which can be very handy.

We’ll need an Amazon account but the benefits are significant. For example, quickly ordering of supplies e.g. “Alexa order more toilet roll” or “Alexa add aspirin to my medications list”. 

There are also a wide range of useful tools which could help carers. It’s become so popular that Amazon have started to work on a new version designed specifically for older people and carers in care homes.

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How carers are using Alexa around the house to help them

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"I really like Alexa; we have one in just about every room. I use it for routine reminders, day date prompts, lists, to operate my linked devices, to view my cameras, to display photographs, listen to the radio or music and to help with cooking."

In the kitchen, carers have shared that they use Alexa for all the "routine reminders" such as;

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• Phoning the doctor 

• Getting the person they care for 

• Medication (four times a day)

• Getting ready for bed, find pyjamas, tooth brush etc.

• Closing the garden, (get in any washing, lock the side gate)

• Checking the bins, then using  my calendar to decide if it was recycling or rubbish bin.

• Zoom call in 10 minutes. 

• Phoning the dentist

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"I used the Kitchen Echo Show or my tablet to “drop in” on the bedroom Echo Show, this meant that I could see and hear her from the kitchen."

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In the bedroom:

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"In the bedroom and kitchen are Echo Shows these include a camera and a display. We use the bedroom Echo to set a wake-up reminder every day.  The reminder is repeated twice and stops while the alarm plays until you say “Alexa stop” if you prefer Alexa can play music or a radio station to wake you up."

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"Using Alexa compatible smart plugs and bulbs allows me to turn some of my lights on or off just by talking to Alexa."

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"We have Alexa compatible door bell, security cameras and thermostat. Alexa can show me the porch or garden, but only for a limited time. She can also turn the heating up or down."

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​"When I’m feeling lonely or overwhelmed, I like chatting to my Alexa for a little pick me up!"​

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Best for information - Google Nest

Google offers a similar range of devices starting from £49, all powered by Google’s search system which means we are never far from the right answer. To get the most from Google’s nest product we’ll need a Google account. It will help a lot if we use Google’s calendar and email as well. 

Similar useful tools for carers to Amazon Echo are also available on Google Nest.

One to watch - Apple Homepod

We can’t fully recommend this yet as Apple’s digital assistant Siri is still some way behind that of Google and Amazon. But, if we are tied up in the Apple ecosystem of devices, we might find it a useful addition to have. Commands like “Siri call Mum” will work really well, but it fails when asking for relatively straightforward information. If we think it’s for us take a look at their devices.