topic Re: Simple Menu for Dementia in Sky Accessibility

Simple Menu for Dementia

NuttyNightBird — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 17:26:27 GMT

My mum who is physically disabled and has dementia is no longer able to navigate the complex sky menu.

She has always watched the same few sky channels all day every day, but she is struggling more and more with the busy layout and pictures. She gets very confused and constantly calls for help because she can't find what she is looking for. She can't use the channel codes either ie "501".

she has her own TV and stream boxes in 2 rooms. Is there a way to customise the menus on just her stream boxes, so she only sees her favourite channels and nothing else? We have high contrast on under accessibility but it hasn't helped and I can't see any other settings?

Or is there a programmable remote to put on a favourite channel by pressing a single button, and where those buttons can be customised (by us) with a channel name or logo ie. Sky news.

Thanks. Please help!

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

StellaSS — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:46:07 GMT

Hi,

I can't see that you have had replies to this as I am currently searching for a solution. Mum uses the mini box but downloads tons of stuff (& records the news 24/7 on series link). I want her to only be able to access the tv guide - ours seems to open automatically on recordings or home so she selects from there. Any help please???

Dementia TV

UrbanSpaceman — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 09:54:05 GMT

Why is there no Dementia TV? What is needed is an actual separate TV that can be used with a basic On/Off, Volume and Channel handset. Very simple. The set up of the stations would be similar to selecting "favourites", but rather than channels, programmes could be chosen, then all the client needs to do is flick from channel to channel like the old pre digital tvs.

There are millions of users who need this service. Sky really is missing out.

Don't clutter the screen with various icons (that could be done via app or secondary remorte). Just basic click and watch. Simple for Dementia sufferers.

Re: Dementia TV

Daniel0210 — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 10:09:03 GMT

@UrbanSpaceman wrote:

Very simple.

@UrbanSpaceman

If it would be very simple (and cost effective) why haven't competitors designed this?

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

jonboy10 — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 15:52:47 GMT

Did you ever find a solution? I'm having the same problem with my dad who has dementia. I can't believe a huge company like Sky can't offer any kind of simplified programme to make life easier for the elderly or those with disabilities.

Re: Dementia TV

Becky371 — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 19:53:10 GMT

This would be an amazing feature! We would happy pay the subscription fee for this kind of thing allowing my mum the flexibility of watching more than just basic Freeview channels 😒

Re: Dementia TV

Mark39 — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 19:56:54 GMT

@Becky371 wrote:

This would be an amazing feature! We would happy pay the subscription fee for this kind of thing allowing my mum the flexibility of watching more than just basic Freeview channels 😒

While not the same as a dedicated TV or viewing platform like Sky a simplified remote may help: https://flipperremote.com/

Re: Dementia TV

Becky371 — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 20:56:50 GMT

Thanks @Mark39 we do have a doro remote but just doesn't give her the selection of TV that sky would she pretty much watched itv, gold and the movie channels now she only has access to itv of the ones she likes which is a shame but the remote is a good send and the only way she is able to navigate the TV without needing someone to do it for her

Re: Dementia TV

collinb — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 11:50:40 GMT

Having set channels as favourites then my remote control works as you suggested

ie favourite list 1 BBC1, 2 BBC 2,etc 7 Racing TV so I just press 7 for Racing TV

Collin

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

collinb — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:03:46 GMT

I have set up favourite channels on our SkyQ box

to be found just above the TVguide in the menu

ie favourite list

1 BBC1,

2 BBC 2,etc

7 Racing TV so I just press 7 for Racing TV, 15 for ITV4

isnt this what you are looking for

Collin

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

Blarion — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:39:47 GMT

I too would like to see a simple menu structure for elderly users! My mother struggles between channel numbers and the incessant Sky prompts for the PIN number. So I spend a lot of my calls with my mother trying to establish where she is on her TV and what she has pressed.

so what would be very welcome:-

a) simple menu structure

b) turn off the pin

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

Dementiacarer — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:07:10 GMT

No pin and a simple menu would be life changing for us

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

Dementiacarer — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:17:50 GMT

Should have added the favourites menu is just too hard for my Dad to find. What makes things even worse is that he has Sky Stream and hardly any of the tv numbers match those in the newspaper/radio times. Looking at the Sky tv guide on the computer is just too complicated for him.

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

Blarion — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:27:08 GMT

I have had to create a simple cheat sheet that has been laminated, so that my mum can use it as she sees fit on her little table. Hopefully this will help her. But in the meantime I wonder if anyone from Sky R&D monitor these forums?

a simple menu structure is not difficult. Apple and Android include with their systems.

Re: Dementia TV

Spb — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:14:27 GMT

I loved that answer, dementia is a horrible thing I've had to move in and and give up my personal life with a loved one, luckily we just switched the tv on he sat in his recliner chair and didn't really have a clue as to what he was watching never mind the speaking to shampoo bottles and peeing on the carpet

this may not be of any help to the topic in fact it's not and I wish I could find a solution!

maybe it's a business venture if intact is!

@UrbanSpaceman

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

Spb — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:20:07 GMT

@NuttyNightBird , I hope you find something more practical for your mother

it's frustrating I can imagine and must cause you stress and worry!
sorry I don't have an answer!

p.s I love the name by the way! nutty night bird haha what are you an owl ? Cuckoooo

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

collinb — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 06:19:25 GMT

Sorry my post was perhaps misleading. I set up my favourite channels. The channel numbers correspond to the numbers on the keypad. Now I don't need to use the sky menus simply press the button on the keypad for a channel. Press sky to access recordings.

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

paul313131 — Thu, 23 May 2024 09:18:50 GMT

I don't think Sky are bothered about this. I have been seaching these forums for this kind of help for a disabled father and it looks like people having been asking Sky,for years, to help. Lots of people over the years have asked for the simple remote but Sky's idea of a disabled/elderly remote is just the old Sky remote with a bit of rubber around it. Sky have even gotten rid of some remotes that were made to make things easier e.g. remote with handle on.

My dad had a massive stroke, which has left him unable to read and write or speak. He can only use one hand. I have been trying everything so he can change channels when he wants, rather than the nursing home staff. I tried the flipper and other remotes . The flipper would be perfect except you have to wait before pressing the up down buttons again. He can't do this. I just need a remote that + - channel works as soon as you press it. Can't seem to even find this.

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

nufc+fan — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:08:38 GMT

The easiest thing we found with the PIN is change it to '9999'.

My MIL frequently gets stuck on channels where she requires a subscription and changing to a specific channel number, like 101 doesn't change channels.

Describing channel up/down is tortuous.

We use an Amazon Echo show so we can see what she's doing on days we're not there. Unfortunately she can't resist pressing buttons other than the ones you ask and it can take 20 minutes to get her onto a channel she likes. These days she watches (intentionally) BBC1 and Sky Sports News. We have to tell her when there's live football/tennis she likes, but a lot of the time, she'll put it back on 409 without even remembering what she was watching. I can turn off her TV remotely using amazon, but can't change sky channels for her when she's stuck and getting frustrated.

Re: Simple Menu for Dementia

collinb — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 07:25:35 GMT

Looking back at this thread I see some confusion over the 'favourite' list.

Once it is set up then the buttons on the remote correspond to the numbers on the list. Button 1 on my remote is BBC1 etc