Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, April 14, 2018

THE GOOD LIFE

10

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 14, 2018 

SIMPLE VIDEO CALLING DEVICES FOR 

TECH-CHALLENGED SENIORS

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …APRIL Birthdays*

Howard Rubin, Anita Hardy, Hattie Harris, Mary Harley, Bette White, Dorothy 
White, Doris Behrens, Freda Bernard, Beth Copti, Terri Cummings, Marilyn 
Diaz, Virginia Elliott, Elma Flores, Betty Jo Gregg, Barbara Lampman, Betty 
Mackie, Elizabeth Rassmusen, Maria Reyes, Marian DeMars, Anne Schryver, 
Chrisine Bachwansky, Colleen McKernan, Sandy Swanson, Hank Landsberg, Ken Anhalt, Shannon 
Vandevelde * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required

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

 

 

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m. to 
11a.m. Join the class with Instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the 
art of Hula. 

Bingo Time: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. Activity may be canceled if less than five people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays of the month from 11a.m. to 12p.m. No appt. is necessary. 

Brain Games: Join us on Thursday, April 19th at 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m for Scattergories, a creative 
thinking game by naming objects within a set of categories; or Jenga, a block-building challenge that 
keeps you stacking and balancing your tower. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. What 
a great way to strengthen your brain and make new friends. Games facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, April 18th from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is 
available for legal consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury. Please 
call Hart Park House for an appointment, 626-355-7394. 

Senior Club: Meets every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 
11:30a.m. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays from 11:00a.m. to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes include 
Yoga and balance exercises. All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed!

* A voluntary donation of $5.00 per week is suggested but not required.

Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday monthly at the Hart Park House, share some free 
birthday cake provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club! 

Free Strength Training Class: Fridays from 12:45p.m. to 1:30p.m. with Lisa Brandley. This 
energetic class utilizes light weights, low impact resistance training and body conditioning. Class 
equipment is provided. 

Tax Assistance: Every Wednesday beginning on February 7th through April 11th from 1:00p.m. 
to 2:00p.m ...Don Brunner is available for income tax consultation... 
**Appointments are required by calling the Hart Park House Office 626-355-7394**

 ** Call Community Services Department for details about the “Ear to Ear Program” returning in 
2018**

 626 - 355 - 5278

March Excursion

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens (Palm Desert) 

 Date: Friday. April 13, 2018 
Time: 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. 
Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

 Cost: $30 (Does not include lunch)

For almost four decades The Living Desert has been engaged in the important work of preserving, 
conserving and interpreting the desert and all its varied plants and animal life. Living Desert tours 
is a unique way to enhance your zoo and botanical garden adventure. The shuttle will make stops 
which may include the Wildlife Hospital, District Commissioner’s House which has a panoramic 
view of Amur Leopard and the Interactive Discovery Center. Lunch will be on your own at one of 
the cafes in the zoo.[Level of Walking: Medium] 

SENIOR MOVIE

April 18th at 1:00 p.m.

Victoria & Abdul (2017) 

Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria’s golden 
jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. 
As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two 
forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle 
try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a 
changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity. Rated 
PG-13. Run time 1h 52m.

Dear Savvy Senior,

 Are there any senior-friendly devices that you 
can recommend for video calling? I live about a 
day’s drive from my 83-year-old father and would 
like to see him more often but he doesn’t use a 
computer, tablet or a smartphone. 

 Searching Susan

Dear Susan,

 Video chatting is a great way to stay connected 
and keep tabs on an elder parent when you can’t be 
there. To help you and your dad achieve this, there 
are various products on the market today that offer 
simple video calling for seniors who are unfamiliar 
or uncomfortable with technology. Here are three 
unique devices to consider.

ViewClix

 If you’re interested in a device that requires no 
input from your dad, check out the ViewClix Smart 
Frame. This is a 15-inch digital picture frame with 
video calling capabilities designed specifically for 
seniors. 

 Ready to use right out of the box, this device 
lets family and friends make video calls and send 
photos (displayed as a slideshow) directly to your 
dad’s ViewClix Smart Frame anytime from their 
smartphone, tablet or computer. To do this, you 
simply download the free ViewClix app to your 
devices. 

 All photos sent and video calls made to your 
dad’s ViewClix are received automatically. But, 
it is worth noting that this is a receiving device 
only. Your dad cannot initiate video calls from his 
ViewClix.

 This device is available at ViewClix.com or 800-
304-4281 for $299 (Wi-Fi is required), or you can 
purchase their 4G Broadband model that works 
with T-Mobile if Wi-Fi is not available for $299, 
plus a $20 monthly broadband fee. 

GrandPad

 Another nifty product that offers simple video 
calling, and much more, is the grandPad. This is 
an 8-inch touchscreen custom tablet designed for 
seniors, ages 75 and older. It comes with a stylus, 
charging stand and Verizon 4G LTE built-in so 
it works anywhere within the Verizon network – 
home Wi-Fi is not necessary. 

 This unique tablet provides a simplified menu 
of big colorful icons and large text to only essential 
features, giving your dad clutter-free, one-touch 
access to make and receive video calls and phone 
calls, send voice emails, view photos and videos, 
listen to personalized music, check the weather, 
play games and more. But, to simplify usage and 
avoid confusion, it does not offer Web browsing. 

 GrandPad also has a “Help” button that offers 
24/7 phone/tablet remote assistance to help your 
dad with any facet of his tablet, and it provides 
damage and theft insurance so if your dad breaks 
or loses his tablet it will be replaced at no additional 
cost. Available at grandPad.net or call 800-704-
9412, a grandPad leases for $66 per month, or $49/
month if you pay one year in advance.

Echo Show

 If you don’t think your dad would mind talking 
to a machine, the voice activated Amazon Echo 
Show is another senior-friendly device for video 
chatting (Wi-Fi is required). 

 Available at Amazon.com for $230, the Echo 
Show has a 7-inch color touchscreen that would 
let your dad make and receive video calls to those 
who have their own device, or who have the free 
Amazon Alexa app installed on their smartphone 
or tablet. 

 Once you set up his contacts, to make a call 
your dad would simply say, “Alexa, call Susan.” 
And when a call comes in, he would ask Alexa 
to answer or ignore the call. There’s also a feature 
called “drop-in,” which could allow you and other 
preselected relatives or friends to video in to your 
dad’s device at any time without his input.

 The Echo Show also offers a bevy of other 
features your dad might enjoy like voice-activated 
access to news, weather, his favorite music and 
more.

 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.


MTA Reduced Fare TAP Card

Thursday, April 12, 11:30a.m. – 12:30p.m. at Hart Park House 

A representative from Metro Transportation Authority will be accepting Reduced Fare Applications 
from patrons who are interested in obtaining a Reduced Fare TAP CARD. In addition to 
the card, patrons who are eligible will receive a temporary card on site and they will have the 
opportunity to load with cash value. No appointment is necessary.

Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning & PreparationAmbulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance626.584.8130Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice SupportAll caregivers are highly screened, trained andinsured to meet your quality standards.
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