Senior citizen cell phone
Tags: big numbers, cellular telephone, easy cell phones, father-in-law, large buttons, senior citizen cell phone
Article Summary:
| Senior citizen cell phone | |
 | Cell phone companies really need to make simpler phones. Having been the caretaker of several senior citizens (family), some with Alzheimers, I know how important it is to be able to give an older person a cell phone that they can: 1. See! (Large, clear text and big buttons) 2. Hear! 3. Understand! (Simple to [...] |
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Hi Ms. Donna,
This is a very helpful article, thanks for posting it. Anyway, I know one phone for seniors that have all of your suggested features. It’s the Just5 phone, my 56-year-old father owns one. It has big buttons for easy reading and composing of texts, louder volume, speed dialing, excellent battery life, and a reasonable price. Of course, it is also very easy to operate. In fact, even a small kid can use very well.
What I love about Just5 phone is its added features, an emergency S.O.S. button. Since my father got this phone, I’m already secured and at peace whenever my father is away or I am away from home. This assures me that my father is doing well and I’ll be immediately informed if ever he is not. So I recommend this phone with all confidence to all the seniors out there.
By the way, the company website is this: http://www.Just5.com.
That actually does look like a pretty good phone for seniors. I’m a little wary because it seems to be very new, and I couldn’t find a dealer location in my area, but other than that, it looks pretty good. Thanks.
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
Hi Donna;
I’ve been doing research on cellphones for the elderly and came upon your post.
Since most senior citizens are on fixed incomes, a prepaid phone IS a good option and here’s one from the leading prepaid phone comapny, Tracefone.
It’s call SVC and here’s a video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klPBNOpfQqY&NR=1
It’s not just about cost though. The great thing about the Jitterbug is that it has big numbers and letters (both on the keypad and on the screen), it doesn’t have any confusing, useless features, help is just a button push away (live people to help), and the phone is designed to help them hear it better. It’s definitely the best I’ve found.
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
Saw this phone at KMart and it’s also available online. I was surprised about its simplicity which did not appeal to me at all. But I realize that for older people, it’s a very appealing feature. Plus, the $20 price makes it very affordable, which is an important consideration, in my opinion.
Yes. The price is right. It’s simple and there’s no contract or committment.
Not a fancy, hi-tech device by any means but it is perfect for elders.
Another great option for seniors is SafeLink Wireless.
This is a federal program where a low-income senior can get a cell phone subsidized by the government.
You are correct about the Jitterbug also. My father has one. “A brick with an antenna” as he describes it, but he loves.
Tony Rovere recently posted..Free For Seniors
I’ve also been on the lookout for something for my mother, and don’t want to chop and change with her, so needed to be sure. What I found was a couple of options available, and the basics are much the same-they all have big buttons and on screen text, hearing aid compatible, emergency assist of some sort and various options to make things simpler to use. Jitterbug has live help, Senior Value Cellphone has an easy navigation menu with simple yes/no answers required to move within the menu. While I agree with you that cost isn’t everything (actually I believe coverage is), price does play a large role in many seniors budget, and this is where the SVC phone wins-$15, with Consumer Cellular’s Dora coming in next at $30. I found that while Jitterbug offers some great and valuable apps, at $100 for the phone, plus $35 activation fee and then an extra $5-$10 on top of your monthly plan per add on, like medication assist or live assist, the costs start mounting. Just5 seems to offer the lowest monthly cost, but as you said, are quite new. I believe you need to assess your overall needs and after that, ’tis a very personal decision as to what suits your needs best.
yeah this is very interesting. I mean its great that things like this are coming out because my mother refuses to get a phone and I was just showing her this svc stuff on line and she keeps saying she doesnt think she will be able to use it. Her hearing is VEry weak but i want to know how reliable the hearing aid compatiability really is?
Thanks guys.
My father-in-law refuses to wear a hearing aid, so I can’t vouch for that part. I just know he can hear better with this than he can with a regular phone or regular cell phone.
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
Have you covered Trackphone’s svc, senior phone? Very simple; crude, really. Inexpensive and dead easy to use. Much better than this jittery phone.
$20 to purchase and another #$20 every 3 months to use. Very few features but to talk and text it is ideal.
Nope, can’t say I’ve seen that one. Sounds good though, thanks for sharing it.
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
Several people are mentioning TracFone, and it sounds like a great option for those who don’t want to use a cellular telephone a lot. You are right – many of them are pricey, but hopefully as more companies catch on to the idea, the competition will hopefully drive down some of those prices.
Most senior citizens don’t love cellphones and if they do they want is basic basic basic!. So, I think Tracfone’s SVC suits them just fine with its simple flip phone and large, lit key pad. I mean, what more do you want from a $15 phone and $7 service? My grandma has this phone and she wouldn’t care for any other. The reception is always clear and the monthly out of pocket is a non-factor!