Best Mobile Phone and Plan for Elderly

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Kirstie

Kirstie

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
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Loc
Berkeley, CA
We are about to welcome Jeff's mom to the Bay Area for a permanent change of residence. She woudl like a cell phone so she can always have a phone with her. She will need auto dialing, a simple set up, and big buttons. Suggestions? We use ATT so I will probably piggyback her on to our plan. Or not.
 
Assuming you can add her to your plan for free or a nominal charge and share minutes that's what I'd do, as she will use very few minutes.

As far as phones, I would stick with one that has a physical keypad because older people seem to have a hard time with the concept of the meaning of location "x" changing depending what you're doing. Probably almost any will be fine, just look at them to find one with larger buttons and make sure that they have good contrast and backlighting. I wouldn't worry too much about setup - you can do it and it will be done.
 
Kirstie, AT&T Mobility offers a family plan and you can add up to 4 additional lines for 9.99 a month, with taxes and fees that's about 13.00. They can give you a free phone but you'll need to lock in a 2 year plan.

You could also buy just a sim card from an AT&T store, and insert it into one of your old AT&T phones. You would need to pick a plan and you would load time onto the phone using a go-phone card, much like a gift card. You would have the choice of activating the sim with a plan of your choosing. (choices I've seen are paying .07 cents per minute or 2.00 per day)

The number stays with the sim card and you can move it from phone to phone. You won't be locked into a 2 year plan either.
 
We piggybacked Roger's mom's phone on to our plan. (two year sign up? Heck, we have been with our company for 15 years... what's another 2?) We programmed the speed dial and used a label maker to stick small labels on her screen "2=Roger. 3=Ellen, etc, as well as the unit's own number) Half the time she calls the wrong one of us, but we generally know where the other is, and so it isn't much problem.

Thus begins another adventure, eh?
 
I just picked up a new cell phone from AT&T... a Pantech Breeze II. The buttons are a little bigger than most cell phones, but I mainly got it because it has 3 buttons just below the screen: numbered 1, 2 and 3. You can set these up for quick auto dial. Set-up to call myself and two other numbers will be more than enough for her. She's 87, has had a cell phone for as long as she's been in assisted living (about 3 years) and voice messaging and all other phone functions are never used (too challenging). The one thing I don't like about this phone is the connection for charging it... hopefully that won't be a deal breaker for my mom. Anything too challenging will result in total rejection. I only got the phone for the 1,2,3 buttons! Ya' know... if we're lucking to live long enough, we can return to being in diapers and the use of very basic numbers!
 
Z David said:
...I mainly got it because it has 3 buttons just below the screen: numbered 1, 2 and 3. You can set these up for quick auto dial.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that's really handy, but as an FYI any phone I've ever had with physical buttons can be programmed to use all the number buttons for one-touch dial. Generally, 1 is for voice mail but sometimes can be changed. The main difference is likely to be that with the three dedicated buttons you just push and connect. With traditional one-touch dial you have to press and hold so the phone will know you want the one-touch rather than just the single digit.
 
Check with AT&T about calling within the plan members...I believe it doesn't get charged against your overall minutes. If MIL is going to be calling her buddies in Miami, that's a whole nother thing.
 
My Dad's 95 and hard of hearing. We tried cell phone but he just couldn't do it. At 95 he's still active and out and about town most days walking or on the bus. He's fragile and could certainly get in problems such as falls. I hoped I could find a cell system item which would let him push a help button which would also locate him by GPS so we or a service could get help to him quickly. So far we haven't found such a system. I have read of systems like this coming on the market aimed mostly at young children but suitable for the elderly. Anyone come across something like this?

One pleasant surprise we found is how generous people are about helping old fellows like Dad. If I take him to the mall and leave him for a few minutes he always ends up with someone, usually young women, holding his arm and carrying his packages.
 
Perhaps the Jitterbug Senior Phone.

SPH-A310_elg.jpg


Key Features:
  • Large, backlit keypad makes dialing easy.
  • Nationwide Service starts at just $14.99 per month, with no contracts or prepaid hassles. You can change your monthly service plan at any time or cancel your service at any time.
  • Bright color screen displays numbers with clarity.
  • Patented design delivers clear sound and reduces background noise.
  • No confusing menus. Access all options with simple 'YES' or 'NO' questions.
  • Bluetooth® and caller ID enabled.
  • Phone Number Portability: Option to retain and transfer existing cell phone number to your new Jitterbug cell phone, providing that number is still available at the time you make the request.
  • 30 day return policy.
  • Simply dial '0' to reach a live, 24-hour Operator. They will greet you by name, connect calls and provide directory assistance. They can also activate or deactivate any feature you want.
  • No contracts, No prepaid hassles.
 
Jitterbug sounds like the perfect phone for me - 50 minutes a month would never get used - and I doubt if I would give the number to anyone - this would be for emergencies only.

I like the red one, plus it is so old fogeyish I doubt young thieves would break into a car to steal it. LOL.
 
I got my mom the simplest flip cover cell phone usable with Verizon. She's on my family plan.

A cell phone makes perfect sense for a single elderly person living alone.

Always with you so you don't miss a call.
Vibrate mode if your hard of hearing.
Again...on your person in case of a fall.
Save money and get rid of the land line.
Free long distance.

Just so you know none of that logic works with mom!...

Doug
 
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