Caveats to News Alerts for the Sandwich Generation Caring for Elderly Parents Near and Far

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Being a high-tech Sandwich Generation granny nanny who is busy caring for elderly parents near AND far, as well as babysitting grandchildren, I am always on the lookout for good tech helps. In fact, you're more likely to find me at the computer than baking in the kitchen (which is actually healthier for my waistline. 🙂  ).

As I've written before, emergency news alerts can be very useful for local AND long distance caregivers, as they can let you know about major weather problems like tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as other emergencies. BUT they can have their downfalls. You have to be careful about time differences. And you have to "test drive" various news alerts to see if THEIR definition of important breaking news is YOUR definition.

For example, I have several local news stations' alerts that come to my AT&T iPhone. And yet, not one let me know about a possible tornado last week. I only found out the next day when I turned on the news. I decided to add yet another station's news alert to give more comprehensive coverage. THAT one sent me the "vital" breaking news alert that there would be a tornado TEST later that day. I appreciated the information – but NOT at 4 am in the morning! They also consider car crashes in areas far removed from where I live to be breaking news, even in the early dawn, so I went in and removed most of their alerts, keeping only the weather alert.

Another news station sends me daily alerts for the weather report in my area, as well as that of a senior relative's city. I appreciate the info, BUT when I travel from the East Coast to the West Coast, I found I needed to adjust the time settings so they would send me the information at 11 a.m. I would have preferred it earlier in the morning, but it wasn't vital. And the first time my cell phone sent me the weather report at 3 am PST, I knew SOMETHING had to change. 🙂

These news alerts are definitely a big help for all of us in the Sandwich Generation, caring for elderly parents near and far, as well as babysitting grandchildren who may have schools that close for snow days, flooding, etc. and you need to know. But being aware of possible problems will help you just as much.

P.S. If you are here from PINK Saturday, click here for easy, fun, and PINK crafts for grand kids and seniors to prepare for St Patricks Day fun – on and offline. Great for the Sandwich Generation!