internet (firewalled?) for Alzheimer mother
r.oel...@gmail.com
weeks ago, and it appears my sister basically took away her Apple Mac
computer that had internet (free dial up). My mother is 80, just
diagnosed with *early* stage Alz, is on aracept, and has voiced to me
several times she wants her computer with internet. I understand my
sister's concerns-- I mean we do not want our loved ones with Alz
being victims to phishing scams, spam email, ordering ten thousand
books off amazon or whatever.
So, my question is, isn't there some way to set up a PC with internet
and do some serious firewalling to give Alz patients very limited and
controlled internet, so as to restrict who they can receive and send
email to, what websites they can visit, prevent any online business
transactions? (my mom never even did a single online purchase anyhow).
I am a geek myself, I should think it is possible, just curious if
anybody has done this, or if there are turn-key solutions available?
I am familiar with MS-Windows, though I am mainly a unix/linux geek,
well versed in Linux as my operating system of choice. I have
virtually no knowledge of Mac OS. Another alternative I know little
about is WebTV-- might that be a simple way to go, but then wouldn't
that be harder to firewall to prevent online phishing, online
purchases?
Randall
Evelyn Ruut
"beo...@nowhere.net" <r.oel...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1193086670.7...@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
Randall you have to have a credit card to make purchases online. Does she
order things by credit card? If your mother never did it in the past, she
is unlikely to start ordering things online now. Web TV is simpler in that
you can't save anything, but you can get email and newsgroups and see
websites. You might want to consult a computer professional to get some
further clarification on this, but maybe WebTV might be just the thing.
--
Best Regards,
Evelyn
r.oel...@gmail.com
...
> further clarification on this, but maybe WebTV might be just the thing.
Simpler is best, so if WebTV can work, and she would not get into
trouble, that seems like a potential route. She really wants, and
NEEDs simplicity for internet.
Alan Meyer
I agree with Evelyn about credit card ordering. If your Mom has no
credit cards, she won't be able to order things over the Internet.
In theory, she could order a credit card, but I think that's very
unlikely given all the steps one has to deliberately go through to
get one.
I have never used WebTV. Knowing what TV's are like in
comparison with computer monitors, my guess is that it's
a big step down in readability. Also, if your Mom already
knows how to use her own Apple computer, she might find
that easier than learning something new, even if it is simpler.
WebTV will probably also have a monthly cost, though I
presume it's pretty low in the scheme of things.
I think I might try the following steps:
Check to make sure she doesn't have a credit card. That's
probably the best thing to do anyway since it's hard to
guarantee security in a place like an Alzheimer's home.
Bring back the Apple computer and set it up. See if she
can still use it. If not, then try WebTV.
Finally, it seems to me that having a computer will provide
some additional intellectual stimulation for your Mom. It won't
make a big difference, but it might make her a little happier
and more alert while she's still able to use it.
Good luck.
Alan
august
WebTV will cost you about 20. a month plus your mom will have to learn a new
way of doing things online and this might be very difficult since often the
ability to learn new things is what is lost first. WebTV will not prevent
phishing in that the same offers can show up in your mom's incoming email.
Give her back her Mac and just make sure she doesn't have a credit card
available. I think as long as she does not have a credit card available
then you do not have much to worry about, especially if your mom is in
assisted living and does not have access to a car or her bank. She might
really enjoy sending and receiving emails. It has been my experience that
older people who mainly just do email and not a lot of surfing do not
receive a lot of phishing requests anyways unless they also happen to
receive lots of junk Fwd emails from well meaning friends who do not know
how to copy and paste and instead just hit Fwd to resend jokes, junk mail,
etc.
You could also call your mom's credit card company Fraud dept. and have all
online purchases blocked, assuming you are a co-signer on the account. AW
Evelyn Ruut
"Alan Meyer" <ame...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:JqKdnSBbVeXwt7_a...@comcast.com...
You make good sense, Alan!
--
Best Regards,
Evelyn