Light for my elderly mom

mknewman

Newly Enlightened
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Sep 5, 2009
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Houston, Tx USA
My mom has macular degeneration and lots of trouble seeing. I recently bought her a magnifying table lamp with a large neon bulb and it seems to have helped her a lot, so I also gave her a el-cheapo freebie flashlight from Harbor Freight that I had laying around. She said that helped some, and is portable enough that she can keep it in her purse.

I want to get her a nicer flashlight that is more appropriate for her problem. I'm thinking something with all flood, not too bright so as to not overwelm what she's reading, maybe VHOP or similar. the simpler the better, and I'm thinking single mode. Quark comes to mind, maybe a Fenix, but those are multi-mode. I'd prefer not to get a P60 based light as that may be more complicated than she would want (prob no rechargables either).

I did forget to mention that she's fairly weak and had trouble pushing in the button on the HF light. Twisty might be best.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
Take a look at the icon series.

Simple ui easy to get batteries and unique power management all make this a good elderly or non flashaholic gift. And you can get them locally in most places.

or maybe a nice headlamp (h501/w)
 
Surefire E1L. 1 mode model has 30 lumens, the 2 mode has 3 and 45. Button is easily pushed, not too bright, small, the best. Just like mom deserves.:thumbsup:
 
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We went through this with my mother in law, who was terrified of a power outage. Although it would never be my choice, we settled on a 2 C maglight. It's big, but is easy to find, feels familiar, and seemed more intuitive to her than one with a tailswitch.

I would put a few lights in front of your mom and ask her to try them out and pick one.
 
I just came to think about tint.
People with macular degeneration often get glasses with yellow lenses to enhance contrast. I don't know if she has that but anyway it could maybe be better with less blue and more yellow in the light.
So warm or at least neutral and not cool white.

Do you have some lights with different tints so she can test it out?
Or compare LED vs incan.
 
Surefire E1L. 1 mode model has 30 lumens, the 2 mode has 3 and 45. Button is easily pushed, not too bright, small, the best. Just like mom deserves.:thumbsup:

I have a E1L and I love it (apart from the cool white tint) but I think when you use a SF with TIR up close you're going to get a small and bright hotspot. Not really ideal for closeup work.

I kind of don't really want to recommend a Inova X5 because it's relatively large but it's a twisty/pushy combo that puts out a straight flood - not super bright either. Kind of a bummer that it's 2xcr123s, not that I mind since most of my lights are cr123s but most people don't seem to like them.

I think the Zebralight H501 is a great idea too. It's a clicky though ... I think you said you preferred twisty. Also, it's a multimode light.

Another suggestion is that you could use a minimag LED and just use it in candle mode.

Also, how about a Streamlight microstream or Fenix E01? Now I'm just throwing suggestions out... :p
 
good comment about tint.

I gave my grandma one of the new 2aa maglight leds
twist head as always simple
2aa simple

also maybe one of the dorcy lights
they might have one kinda modeled after the old incan 2d lights that she would be more familiar with
i know that orchard supply carries a lot of the dorcy's
 
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I have a E1L and I love it (apart from the cool white tint) but I think when you use a SF with TIR up close you're going to get a small and bright hotspot. Not really ideal for closeup work.
You may absolutely be correct on this. I do not know what the beam pattern is specifically like given mine is still inbound in the mail. 3 lumens is pretty dim, but as you say, the hot spot may be too much.

Conversely, you can't hardly get a light with less than 3 lumens aside from a select few models.

I am down with taking mom to Gander Mountain or some other sporting goods store and have her put a few in her hands and find what suits her best. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
+1 on the Icon Rogue lights for the elderly. I got my Mom the Sil. Rogue 1 and my Dad the Blk. Rogue 2 at Radio Shack for a great deal. They run on AA and have a Hi/Low mode. It comes with a nice Lanyard that Mom could leave hanging from her neck if possible. Buy a big AA pack of batteries at Costco. The only bad is that they do not tail stand.
 
You may absolutely be correct on this. I do not know what the beam pattern is specifically like given mine is still inbound in the mail. 3 lumens is pretty dim, but as you say, the hot spot may be too much.

Conversely, you can't hardly get a light with less than 3 lumens aside from a select few models.

I am down with taking mom to Gander Mountain or some other sporting goods store and have her put a few in her hands and find what suits her best. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

You're going to love the E1L. I know I do... still a little iffed about the beam tint though since my E2L has such a nice neutral tint. I used to carry the E1L with me all the time and I still do but my Ra Clicky has been getting more intimate with my pocket over the summer and into the fall. :naughty: Also, no surprises here but I'm convinced my E1L puts out more than 3/45 lumens. With a simple ceiling bounce test it's easy to see that my E1L lights up a room better than my Fenix LD01 which is rated at 85 Lumens.

OP, I totally got off topic - sorry! :eek:
As for the recommendations about the Icon Rouge I can see how this would seem like a good recommendation. I'm convinced myself! I picked one up awhile ago at Radio Shack for a good price and it uses a common battery, has a large and easily pressed button, and the light is large and easy to hold onto. The few concerns I have with this light are ... perhaps it's too big? Don't want it to be a space hog in the purse, right? Also, the head may present some difficulty to unscrew in the event of a battery change. Just a few thoughts.
 
Post I made in 2007 about a similar topic (caveat: there have been many new and improved lights since then, but I think the basic criteria is still mostly valid).

"I have elderly parents, and here's what has worked well for them over the years: Princeton Tec Surge, Princeton Tec Rage, and Underwater Kinetics 2AAA penlight.

My basic criteria (YRMV):

1) Easy on-off is possibly the most important...including "soft"accessible switches, and/or easy to grip and turn. I loosened the screw on the Surge switch to make it super easy on-off. I also removed the o-rings from the Rage and UK 2AAA penlight for the same reason.

2) Not completely round so that if the light is set down on a table or counter, it won't roll off somewhere...possibly leading to a fall (and hip fracture!) when trying to retrieve the light.

3) Size and weight: Not too large, yet not too small. Fairly light in weight. Almost think of it in terms of what would be easy for young kids to use.

4) Non-metallic: Just not as cold to the touch, and less likely to scratch and dent other "stuff."

5) Bright colors: Easy(ier) to see and/or locate.

NOTE: Battery changes are an issue...which is why I make it my job to check and change the batteries when I'm visiting. That's also why I make sure they have more than one back-up light.

The PT Rage is just about the ideal light--small enough to be pocketable, very bright, the side-by-side battery compartment is fairly easy to grip/hold, the slightly larger head is likewise fairly easy to grip and turn on-off (with o-ring removed), etc. There's also the LED version, but I personally prefer the incandescent."

Fast forward to 2010. The Photon Rex is another great light, although the LED tint doesn't work for the OP. The Rex may be a little small in size, but the large on/off button actually makes it easy to use. UI seems simple enough, but might still be too complicated for the elderly. It depends on individual ability/capability.
 
I will echo those who said Icon, except I'd look at the Modus rather than the Rogue. The polymer body may be grippier for feeble hands and it is warmer to the touch than metal. I got a friend one and found it to be pretty nice when I played with it.
 
Co-workers mom has the same problem, the whiter lights she had difficulties with seeing(could be different spectrum affected for each person)
Ended up that the Incan type lights worked well for her.

Surefire incandescent might be the way to go. Or a really warm tint LED
 
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