Cell Phones for Seniors??

[Sweety_tweety]

I am trying to help my parents buy a cell phone--the are in their 70's. I have an AT&T go phone that I have been happy with, but am also considering a Jitterbug or TracPhone.

I would appreciate anyone's experiences--particularly the Jitterbug or TracPhone.

I did find some previous thread on cell phones for seniors, but the threads were old.

 

[Calliaz]

I've been very happy with my TracFone, but based on my experience helping my 80 yo grandmother, I think I wish she had a Jitterbug (she has AT&T and it's too expensive based on her usage).

 

[An_Island_Girl]

My 80 year old grandmother has a jitterbug, and she loves it! Her complaint was that other phones had buttons that were too small, and with her arthritic fingers, she had trouble pressing the smaller ones.

 

[rapriebe]

I got my 82 old mother a trac phone last year for Christmas and what a mistake. She had alot of difficulty using the new technology on a cell phone and it was a nightmare trying to constantly explain to her how to make a call. Didn't realize it was going to be so difficult and I got her the basic phone. However, if your parents can handle new technology, I would go for the trac phone.

 

[Vijoge]

I work in a nursing/rehab facility and many of our patients come to the home with cell phones. They are generally in their 70's and 80's and most of them just have regular cell phones-nothing special due to their age, etc. Initially it seemed odd to see grandpa texting his greatgranddaughter but we've made the adjustment LOL.

 

[LMCT88]

Hi, Not sure what state your in. I know a few seniors who have done this (they are on social security) and retired. Also they can use it for regular calls. You can visit there website safelink.com to find out about how it works, and the free minutes etc.

SafeLink Wireless offers qualifying customers FREE cellular service. This service is currently available in Alabama, Connecticut, D. of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Soon, SafeLink Wireless service will be offered in the following states:

SafeLink Wireless Service is coming soon to...
Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Puerto Rico and Texas

 

[NikiM20]

My grandparents (both 73) have tracfones and it workd great for them. I buy a year card and use bonus codes and they have a ton of minutes that roll over. I also made sure to get two sets of car chargers, one for each car.

 

[MrsMork]

Verizon has phones made with seniors in mind. The others probably do also. I got one for my 82 year old mom. There are 3 buttons on it that you can program numbers into....I C and E. I put my phone number in as I, my DHs as C and my sister's as E. Otherwise, it is pretty much a simple cell phone to use. If she is confused or upset and not thinking clearly she can just push the I button and get me. I think the numbers may be just a bit larger also.

 

[tinker&belle]

If they don't use it much, maybe you can just add them onto your plan? I think most plans let you add a line for about $10 a month.

If not, I've heard jitterbug is easier for older people because they don't have to use the refill cards. I guess it just depends how good they are with things like that, if they want to be bothered with it and if they will LET someone help them with it if they need it.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

My 79 year old Dad has a Jitterbug that we pay the bill for. He uses it once in a blue moon but I like that he has it for emergencies.

I like the Jitterbug service - he can press one button and talk immediately to a live operator (similar to OnStar) and they'll do everything from reprogram his speed dials to get him help if needed. My Dad doesn't like talking to machines (eg voice mail) so being able to talk to a real service person was a bonus for him. The phone itself is easy to use with big buttons and not a lot of confusing bells and whistles.

I think it really depends on how tech-savvy the folks are that are going to be using it. My Dad is not big on gadgets so we needed something simple. The Jitterbug service was what convinced us to go with them.

 

[clutter]

If you're on ATT, look for a phone called the Pantech Breeze. We got one for my 86 year old father. It has a #1, 2 and 3 button under the screen, so you can program 3 numbers in for really really really quick calling. We put in the three numbers he should call in emergency in the order he should try reaching us.

 

[megsters]

If you're on ATT, look for a phone called the Pantech Breeze. We got one for my 86 year old father. It has a #1, 2 and 3 button under the screen, so you can program 3 numbers in for really really really quick calling. We put in the three numbers he should call in emergency in the order he should try reaching us.

we did this for the boyfriend's dad over the summer. fantastic phone. he calls all the time to tell us he can actually see the screen on it. works well for him.

 

[NotUrsula]

Not a phone specially designed for seniors, but if you do the setup, I've found Virgin Mobile does well for them. (All the trendiness of the phone service puts them off a bit, but if you call and tell the operator you don't want any of it, they will turn it off, but you have to be very persistant and explain that the person is elderly and will NOT be using those features ever.) You can set up credit-card auto-topup of $15 every 90 days with the basic plan, and they will be set for all emergency uses.

I just gave my son a phone that I think would work fairly well for older folks; as it has a simple layout with big rubber buttons, a VERY loud speaker, and voice recognition dialling. It also has a standard ringtone that sounds like an old rotary phone. It is the Samsung Mantra, and Radio Shack and Walmart both have it on sale this week for $29.

I have found with elderly folks and cell phones, the biggest problem for them is knowing how to answer the phone. The ringing startles the heck out of them, and they fumble with it trying to get the ringing to stop. If the phone has a setting for answer when opened, turn it on. Otherwise, use colorful nail polish to color code the buttons to use to answer and hang up. The other problem is teaching them how to shut off the ringer in situations where it is inappropriate -- most of the folks I know find that too complicated, and end up doing something like wrapping it in a thick sock to muffle it!

We sat with MIL and had her record voice triggers for all her common numbers, so that she can just open the phone, say "call David" and it does.

 

[Max.ElderG]

I am glad to help!

As you have realized, the Jitterbug is a great place to start if you have an interest in purchasing an elder-friendly cellphone; big numbers, a large screen, and bright contrasts, it is no surprise that the Jitterbug is the go-to elder-phone. But there are a number of additional notable senior friendly cellphones. I am reminded of an ElderGadget.com article post from a few months back on the top cellphones for seniors. Verizon's Samsung Knack Phone is a simple-to-use entry level model with voice dialing and a nice big clear display. There is also the low radiation Samsung SGH T229, with big buttons for your fingers.

Feel free to check out the rest of the list at ElderGadget.com.

Hope that helped!
Max from ElderGadget.com

 

[CowboyCO]

I am trying to help my parents buy a cell phone--the are in their 70's. I have an AT&T go phone that I have been happy with, but am also considering a Jitterbug or TracPhone.

I would appreciate anyone's experiences--particularly the Jitterbug or TracPhone.

I did find some previous thread on cell phones for seniors, but the threads were old.

Just add them to your plan...

 

[prncess674]

Just bought my parents each a Nokia 6350 from AT&T. It came in two colors so they can tell them apart. My dad has limited vision and he said the screen is clear and bright. This phone can also be hooked up to a computer using Nokia PC Suite and a data cable. They have no idea how to use the data cable but it makes it SOOO easy to add numbers rather than trying to hack out names on the numerical keyboard which makes me happy. Whenever I am home I update and backup their phones in case they lose them.

 

[wdwfan16]

I would just add them to your account. It is cheap and you can gift them the service.