TV Remote Control for Elderly

Problem

Senior citizens often struggle with TV menus and remote controls both logically and physically.

Solution

It is desirable to disable buttons that are unneeded and just might send them into parts of the navigation tree where they get lost.

Steps

• Purchase a cheap universal remote control
• Remove the lid
• Cover the buttons on the PCB with adhesive film
• Reassemble the case

Nota bene: there are two types of buttons

• Above approach works well for CONDUCTIVE RUBBER BUTTONS as the adhesive isolates from the conductive rubber
• For TACTILE BUTTONS (in my case under the navigation ring) you need to add a layer of glue from a hot glue gun on top of the adhesive film for preventing the physical pressure from being applied to the soldered dots

My project

My objective was to disable every button, but

• On/off
• Volume up/down
• Channel up/down
• Speaker mute
• Channel numbers
• Navigation ring in the center (kind of helpful, when aided over the telephone)

In case of my relative I started with wrapping the remote on the outside with adhesive film, but this confused her and she removed it. I also attach a red-colored cord to the remote, which is tied to the her nursing bed. She still recognizes the remote and can switch channels. Before she often got lost in the SmartTV settings or Netflix.
I do not claim this is brilliant. I just want to showcase that this easy hack worked for me.