Have had family member suggest my elderly mom might benefit from having Alexa in home. Main reason because she is legally blind and not able to use Internet, etc. However, she does not have the Internet (and no desire for it at present - actually very resistant to the idea, long story). She has me look up information for her on the Internet A LOT. However, part of this is her wanting information, and part of it is wanting the interaction with me. Most of what I research for her would be beyond Alexa's capabilities. Not sure it would be worth getting Internet (would take persuading) to be able to use what services Alexa might provide. What services do you use, or think an elderly person would use, that would make having Alexa worthwhile? Cost of Internet would not be the main consideration (although a factor), if considerable benefit could be shown.
youtube.com/watch?v=eMwz487yG9I
As for asking it questions, he loves it! You can also ask it to play music, read audio books, etc. As long as you set it up for her and help her get started, she should enjoy it.
He loves to ask it what the weather is going to be for the day. He has also enjoyed asking it to play certain songs from the 50's. Mostly, Alexa doesn't know much about cars, which is his main interest, but he finds it to be kind of a fun novelty. I haven't set it up to turn the lights on and off, but I think my dad would enjoy that, too.
I'm happy for the medication reminders -- he's better about taking his pills (mostly vitamins and supplements) since I set the reminders up for him.
Alexa is weird tech in that it can do so much nothing it's crazy. It's just not there. You also have to think about it like an elderly person, whose never ordered from Amazon, never used a smart phone, maybe never done a Google search, and ask yourself how they can relate to it? My father will ask it a question once, and when it doesn't answer right, he won't try again. I'll ask it multiple times in different ways because I know that's how searching works.
I get the desire for it, and I know it could help, but he lives in a world of wall calendars, flip phones and a TV that's 2' feet away from him that he can barely see. He's not going to get a smart phone, use an app for reminders or listen to podcasts and audio books. Unfortunately, while he's cognitively capable of doing that stuff, he's simply not going to do it.
Unfortunately, I don't have any answers as to how to change that.