Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 25, 2013

11

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 25, 2013 

SIMPLE TELEVISION REMOTES DESIGNED FOR 
SENIORS 

Dear Savvy Senior:

Can you recommend some easy-to-use television 
remote controls for seniors? I got my 74-year-old 
mother a new HDTV for her birthday, but the remote 
control is very confusing for her to operate. 
Shopping Son

Dear Shopping:

It seems like most television remote controls today come with dozens of unnecessary buttons that 
make them very confusing to operate. Add in the fact that many people use two or three remotes to 
operate their home entertainment equipment (TV, cable box, VCR and DVD player, etc.) it compounds 
the problem even further. 

Fortunately, there are several universal TV remotes available today that are specifically designed for 
seniors and the technically challenged. These remote controls have bigger buttons and fewer options 
that make them much easier to see, program and operate.

Simplified Remotes

Two popular senior-friendly products to consider are the Flipper Remote and the Super Remote SR3. 

The Flipper works all major TVs including cable, satellite and digital TV receiver boxes with only one 
remote. Available for $25 at flipperremote.com, it offers a tapered design that makes it easy to hold, 
and for simplicity it has only six large color-coded buttons that are exposed (On/Off, Channel Up and 
Down, Volume Up and Down, and Mute.) All others buttons are accessed by sliding the top panel 
down, so they won’t get in the way during day-to-day TV watching. 

Flipper also has an optional feature that lets you program up to 30 of your mom’s favorite channels 
for easy access. 

The Super Remote SR3 from Universal Remote Control, Inc. (sold through amazon.com for around 
$13) is a slightly more sophisticated user-friendly remote that can control three devices – TVs, cable 
or satellite boxes, and DVD players.

It offers a light-weight ergonomic design, large easy-to-see numeric buttons each in the shape of the 
number it represents, and a centrally located “My Button” that gives your mom the ability turn on the 
TV and set the tuner to her favorite channel with a single button press. 

It also provides four “Favorite” buttons for one-touch access to her favorite channels, and an “All Off” 
button that lets her shut down the entire home entertainment system with a single button press. 

Super-Sized Remotes

There are also a number of over-sized TV remotes that are ideal for seniors with vision problems. The 
“Tek Partner,” “Big Button,” and “Tek Pal” remotes all made by the Hy-Tek Manufacturing Company 
(bigbuttonremotes.com, 630-466-7664) in Sugar Grove, Ill. are three solid options to consider. 

If you’re interested in an extra large remote control, the $40 Tek Partner – which is 5 ½” wide and 8 
½” long – is their biggest. It offers huge brightly lit buttons with big readable characters, and a narrowed 
center (3 ½”), which makes it easy to handle for a big remote. It also contains only the essential 
functions making it easy to use and program, and it operates any combination of TV‘s, VCR’s, DVD 
players, cable boxes and satellite dishes. 

If you’re looking for something a little smaller (2 ½” X 9 ½”), there’s the $25, rectangular-shaped Big 
Button remote that offers the same large and illuminating buttons as the Tek Partner and the exact 
same features. 

Or, if you only want a basic remote for the TV, there’s the Tek Pal that comes with just six large buttons 
(On/Off, Mute, Channel Up and Down, and Volume Up and Down buttons) that light up when 
pushed. Available for $19, the Pal will only work with televisions that have cable wired directly into 
the TV. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller 
is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

 
By Pat Birdsall

FYI - AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE

 This class is hosted by AARP and the City of Sierra Madre, and focuses on learning current 
rules of the road, defensive driving techniques and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s 
increasingly challenging driving environment. You’ll learn how you can manage and accommodate 
common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Many states, including California, 
offer discounts on auto insurance rates for those who complete this course.

 The classes are going to be held on Tuesday, June 11th and Wednesday, June 12th from 9:00 am 
to 1:00 pm at the Youth Activity Center, 611E.Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Participants must 
attend both dates in order to complete the course. Cost: $12.00 for AARP members, $14.00 for non-
members (Payment due to instructor on the first day of class). Registration is required, for more 
information or to register call 626.355.7394.

AARP Part II- There is a terrific web site called www.aarpdiscounts.com that offers just that and 
more! You can choose from; Technology & Electronics, Travel, Local Offers, AARP Member Benefits 
and Today’s Deals. Subtexts include: Shopping, Dining & Entertainment, Home & Auto and Health 
& Wellness. For the computer savvy person (NOT yours truly,) it offers so much more. Enjoy and 
save!

HELPFUL HINT: Don’t burn yourself on those hard to reach candle wicks, light a stick 
of spaghetti and light the wick with that.

.....................................................................................

FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

 Asked by a reporter how he had managed to live to the age of 100, an old man explained: “Well son, 
I got married at 21. The wife and I decided that if we ever argued the loser should take a long walk to 
cool off. So I guess I benefitted from 79 years of fresh air.”

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … May Birthdays

 

Faye Angus, JoAnn Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna 
Mathisen, Dorothy Murphy, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, Joanne 
Anthony, Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten Eyck and Jayne 
Thomas. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not 
required.

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Quote of the Week: 

 A dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem. ~ Aaron Kilbourn

 ..................................................................

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

 All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Free Blood Pressure Testing: On the 2nd Tuesday of the month 11:00 am-12:00 pm: A nurse from 
Methodist Hospital, Arcadia volunteers to do the readings. No appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Geoffrey Chin volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules 
can occasionally cause cancellations.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays 
of our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes 
are provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-
kind chess table is anxious for players.

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to

 socialize with your peers. 

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card… For more information 
call Pat Birdsall at 626.355.7290.

Lunch & Learn: Wednesday, May 27, 12:15 to 1:00 PM

“Brain Building Activities are Fun!”- This seminar takes a brief look at the causes of memory loss 
and then explores the array of activities that bolster mental acuity. The discussion will include why 
crosswords, dancing, learning languages and playing board games (among other fun activities) 
are so good for individuals. Facilitated by Jackie Stahl, Community liaison for Comforcare Senior 
Services in Pasadena. For lunch reservations please call the Intervale Senior Café at (626) 355-0256 
at least 24hours in advance, or bring your own lunch to enjoy.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

Save the Dates!

Friday, June 28, 2013- Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

Friday, July 12, 2013- Pageant of the Masters (evening excursion)

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time 
of reservation.

 

Senior Movie Program: FREE movies are chosen by the seniors themselves and shown on the 
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre. ~ Start time is 1:00pm ~

May 29- Secretariat (2009)

A biological sport’s drama produced and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. 

It chronicles the life of thoroughbred race horse Secretariat, winner of the Triple Crown in 1973. 
Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich Rated PG, (run time is 123 minutes)


HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY 
WEEKEND

A Time To Remember America’s Heroes