Would appreciate any thoughts…
I want to get (at least) half a dozen lights for my Mum, who is age-enhanced.
Idea being, they can be left all around the house.
My parameters:
Bright Tubing: Anodised red or whatever (easily seen).
“Glow” fittings/buttons (easily seen)
Probably 1x or 2x AA rechargables. Or…?
I can sort all recharging, but no Li-ons for Mum.
Not too small body mass, but…, not too heavy.
The idea is not too small to lose, but not too big to be able to use easily
Probably more flood than beam. Absolutely no Strobe or SOS!
No disco-freaky time for Mum.
I had a similar thread with the intentions of getting some lights for my grandparents, one item that kept coming up was an LED maglite, i think the mini maglite pro + comes in many colours, runs on 2 * AA cells and should fit all form factor and use requirements. I also don’t like the idea of people whom don’t know about the potential dangers and handling of li-ion cells, AA cells are easy to get and sturdy, should help you sleep better at night Someone else will probably be along shortly to give a better solution
But not an SK68. I would suggest the HK22 with side-clicky. Elderly folks usually have a hard time with twisty lights and with tail-clickies. Usually tail clicky switches are very difficult to use one handed , especially when arthritis starts to rear its ugly head.
The Sipik HK22 (AA) & HK23 (CR123) are extremely easy to work one handed. Plus, I doubt your Mum would find a tactical tail switch natural to use but the switch on the HK22 would fall naturally under her thumb. ;) The only negatives are that it has a strobe mode at the end of its 3-mode cycle and that it is black. :(
I wouldn't recommend a Sipik SK68 if your mother is arthritic or has weak hands. My SK68 has an extremely unreliable tailcap switch, and small/recessed button might cause her trouble. I would agree with the MiniMag recommendation in this case...
But you certainly has become more touchy though :)
J/K. Anyhow this thread is pretty clear on the requirements by the OP. No assumptions. If there's any on my part, I apologize, however if there is, mine is definitely based on my experience where my elderlies DO have difficulties in certain things (e.g locating something).
I don’t know about you guys, but my dad has a lot of ‘preconceived notions’ about life and everything in it. This means it’s extremely difficult for me to teach him anything.
But I’m still going to give him a modded trustfire x6 as a birthday present (not sure about the modes yet though, might be 1 or 3 no disco)
EDIT: I’m probably going to make him give it to me about once every week or two, just to check battery voltages and temps of the light itself. I’m going to include 6 panasonic NCR18650As (3100mAh) and an intellicharger i4 but since we live in the same house I can check up on it whenever I need/want to. How convenient
From my experience “elderly”, “age-enhanced” (call it what you want) does different things to different people, at different rates, for different reasons, and at different ages. I’ve got a good friend who’s pushing 80, still does more than most men I know including climbing trees to cut main limbs before he falls it at the trunk. He’s an “ox”, still. As long as I’m almost yelling in his ear to converse, he’s fine! (too many loud machines!). I know another individual who had a bad accident 20 years ago that did long term damage to his body, but also doesn’t take care of himself, and will be lucky to live another 5 years (IMO), and he’s 48 (and looks at least 70). Anyway, I’m rambling.
To you, Bob, I commend you as you sound like you’re taking care of yourself. I enjoy threads like this as it helps me think of things as I also think of gifting lights to people in my life. Carry on with good suggestions…
2C cell maglite led with side switch in your choice of color and NIMHs if they will not throw the batts away. 2AA to C parallel adapter with your name/number may help to remind them. Enhance tail cap and/or body with glow o-rings and/or paint if desired. Glow needs a regular source of light that will keep it charged, though. I guess tritium markers is another (expensive) option.
Maybe OL will have some unique ideas for nice looking outside glow mods? I’d like to see 3 markers on the edge of the tail cap where he did cuts on that last red light so that they could be seen from side and end.
As memory starts to really go bad, people seem to revert to knowing and preferring what they were familiar with in their younger years (at least those I’ve seen who progressed far beyond their normal aging).
Plus: give them a break-away neck or pocket chain to wear/carry a photon or fauxton, and also add one on a lanyard for their keys. I believe glow versions are available if you look for them.
If the tail cap switch is not a problem, then you could lego on some baked or de-anodized extensions to the SK68 clones to make them bigger and multi-colored for a good light value with more run time still using NIMHs.
Edit: Just noticed the OP is non-USA so perhaps there is a local alternative if maglites are not reasonably well known and available.
My dad loves the Skyray S-A1 I got him. I think it’s mostly because of the small size factor and the very nice easy to use active switch. He actually enjoys all the modes especially the strobe.
They both work fine with a AA battery and a couple other people in his elderly housing complex requested that I get them the same ones and they all requested the strobe mode as well
Someone else will probably be along shortly to give a better solution
(too many loud machines!). I know another individual who had a bad accident 20 years ago that did long term damage to his body, but also doesn’t take care of himself, and will be lucky to live another 5 years (IMO), and he’s 48 (and looks at least 70). Anyway, I’m rambling.