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Stephen93's avatar
Stephen93
Superfast
21 days ago

Mother-in-Law has Alzheimers

She is 93, memory terrible, had Sky Q for years, now she really struggles with it, doesn't look at recordings didn't even know what Sky Q is, the remote is programmed to switch the LG tv on but she gets really mixed up

I decided to get VM installed & a Stream box, it's been a month & she's not used it until yesterday, I showed her the remote (Alot less fussy then Sky), got her to switch the tv & Stream box on simultaneously, next problem the Home Page, wanted it to be as simple as it can be, I said to her once it's on press whichever channel she wants, she was ok whilst I was there, but when I left & viewed the cameras she really was confused (We have cameras at her bungalow) 

When I arrived she had 4 remotes on the settee, I especially told her not to use the Sky ones, she forgot, is there anyway to get rid of the Home Screen & just have the channel appear? 

Is there anything I can do to make it easier for her, it can be a nightmare with her & technology 

14 Replies

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    21 days ago

    Would the TV just on its own not be a better bet? Less confusion?

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      21 days ago

      The Stream box does have voice control, so perhaps you could guide her into using that method.

      Just say the channel name (or number) for example BBC1, ITV, Gold  etc (It also works with the few radio stations that are carried by VM)

      The following page for the 360 box has details of some of the voice commands (the Stream box runs the same operating system as the 360 so the voice commands will work)

      https://www.virginmedia.com/the-edit/tech-and-connectivity/voice-control-on-virgin-tv-360

  • Stephen93's avatar
    Stephen93
    Superfast
    21 days ago

    Thanks, I've tried her on the voice control, it's ok whilst someone is with her, but she just forgets to use it, it's easy just to use the on/off button to switch both on & off at the same time & just use the numbered keys to change channels, she likes Countdown & The Chase, so will tell her to press 3 for itv & 4 for channel 4 at the appropriate times, thanks for your input, I'll try her just on the tv to see how that works 

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    21 days ago

    I had the same situation with my mother and in the end either myself or the carers would just leave the TV on ITV in the morning and that was that until bedtime.  She also had a Freeview recorder but in the end that was abandoned as too much to remember.  The TV being on was the solution and tbh sometimes I wondered if she was really even watching it.

  • Stephen93's avatar
    Stephen93
    Superfast
    20 days ago

    We're not there yet, she lives on her own, no carers yet but her 3 siblings visit every day, anyway, I've checked the camera, she had VM Stream on it was on Challenge tv, she was watching Family Fortunes & after that Bullseye with Jim Bowen, it looked like she was enjoying it, the screen did say continue watching, she didn't realise, rang & told her to press ok, which she did, still watching it now, we'll see what happens next, I think it'll remain on until she goes to bed around 7pm

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      16 days ago

      Hi again Stephen93​ 

      When you get the chance have a look at the stream box settings and the standby timer.

      Settings > System > Standby timer.

      It's automatically set to 4 hours, however there are actually 4 different settings to choose from to prevent the box going into standby if no buttons are pressed.

      You can choose from 4,5,6 or 24 hours.  I suggest selecting 24 hours, then if mother-in-law stays on the same channel for too long it shouldn't  automatically go into standby if she misses the onscreen prompt, as I'd expect her to turn the box off when going to bed?

      It might be an idea to also check that type of setting on her actual LG TV, probably Auto Power Off, which usually has the option of turning Off completely,  or choices going up in 2 hour increments.

      I also suggest downloading the Virgin TVGo app which is available for android and ios devices.

      You can use this as an additional remote control. It can come in handy for turning your mother in laws Stream box on and off, providing she hasn't turned the Stream box off by the wall socket.  

      Also if you know there's a particular program she wants to watch then you could manually change to that channel for her using the app.

      You will need her My Virgin Media (VMO2 ID) details to sign into the app. The default PIN for the app is 1234.

      The following page explains how to use the TVGo app

      https://www.virginmedia.com/help/tv/how-to-use-virgin-tv-go-app

      The Stream box has a setting called Standby power consumption (it's under Settings > System) On the 360 box it has three settings, and I'm pretty sure those same three settings are available on the Stream box :- They are Fast Start, Active Start, and Eco (slow start)  I suggest setting it to Fast or Active Start as on the 360 box it's impossible to set remote recordings if it's on Eco (slow start) mode, so if the Stream box was on that setting it would probably cause issues trying to turn the box On or Off.

       

    • Sabrina_B's avatar
      Sabrina_B
      Icon for Forum Team rankForum Team
      16 days ago

      Hi Stephen93 👋.

      Thanks for reaching out to us, sorry to hear of the issues that your mother-in-law is facing with our Stream box. I am afraid the main home screen is not removable, it can be tailored to a way that may find comfort with her. We have a guide that may help 👉 Stream.

  • Mr_K's avatar
    Mr_K
    Knows their stuff
    16 days ago

    Consider if Freeview would best for her? Keep it simple and save a lot of money. There are ' magic eye' devices that can control channels remotely - worth investigating. 

     

  • Stephen93's avatar
    Stephen93
    Superfast
    16 days ago

    Thanks, I've downloaded Virgin TV Go App & when the box is on I can control what she watches from our house even though I'm not there, can also switch it off along with the LG tv, but can't switch it on, that has to be done at her house, once it's on no problem, trouble is she can't switch it on, have told her countless times just to press the top right button on the VM remote that switches both the tv & steam box on simulationiously, will keep trying 

  • Zmack's avatar
    Zmack
    Joining in
    14 days ago

    Attach an aerial to the back of it and tune it to digital Freeview channels. Alternatively, set up a profile on the virgin stream box that has a much shorter list of channels on it, say three or four of the ones that she watches all the time. Then she can just channel up and down through them all. Make it as close to an old TV as possible and someone in this sort of condition will get on with it better.

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      13 days ago

      Didn't know the VM Stream box had an aerial connections 

      Hi again Stephen93​ 

      It doesn't.  Zmack was probably referring to terrestrial Freeview TV via an indoor or outdoor aerial attached directly to the TV set.

      There is an EE (BT) set top box that also has an aerial connection, however an EE (BT) internet connection is also required for these boxes, unless you purchase one of the obsolete Youview set top boxes from Amazon etc.   If I was take that route then I would be looking at the  Manhattan T4-R 500GB set top box instead, which is a Freeview set top box with recording facilities and all the latest apps.

      • Stephen93's avatar
        Stephen93
        Superfast
        13 days ago

        Thought so, the tv is a new LG, it's tuned in to Freeview but not easy to get the channels on screen, as I can control the VM Stream box from home I'll stick with that