Has anyone found a cell phone that is simple enough (just for calls, no texting, internet, chat, nothing but incoming and outgoing calls) and loud enough for a 95 year old to reliably use?
Yeah, no. My mother is 93 and has enough trouble using the landline, it's unreal actually. Good thing she's not charged for wrong numbers or her phone bill would be as high as her ALF bill. She can't even use the TV remote without pushing a wrong button and then calling me (when she can get thru) to let me know there's 'no voice' on her TV set.
Sigh.
Ain't nuthin' 'reliable' to give a 95 year old that I'm aware of. Or a 93 year old, for that matter.
Looks like it's what I'd thought. Back to the landline--if mother can talk YB into reconnecting it. A phone call to their internet provider is all it would take.
She had phones in all the rooms of her small apartment, except the bathroom. I don't know why YB insists she use the cell phone. It is virtually impossible for her to use it at all. I personally think he does not want her talking to anyone he doesn't 'approve of'.
Esp during this lockdown--mother COULD be calling friends and chatting, but since she cannot operate her cell phone, it is just further isolating her.
If she has never used one, don't think this is the time to start. If she has hearing problems, maybe better to get her a phone for the hearing impaired. A landline with no special features will be cheaper than a cell phone.
It’s like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . By their mid 80s my folks were baffled by phones tv remotes etc. I thought I’d done a good thing by replacing the 80s cordless phones With senior models, great big numbers that lit up and so on. OMG what a nightmare. They just could not learn new things at that point.
JLS195, stay with a landline telephone. Us old timers have had 70 years of experience using one. It's simple, it rings, you pick up the receiver and talk.... though talking put back the receiver. It's all ingrained in our brain :) Plus you don't need to remember to charge it.
Also with a landline, if your senior needs to call 911 but can't talk [such as a stroke], the emergency dispatcher will see the senior's address on the dispatcher screen and send emergency out.
I am waiting for an answer on this!! Mother bought the one that AARP suggested was the 'best for seniors' but she cannot work.
Srs often go SUPER cheap on a cellphone, but it's one thing you have to spend some coin on!!
YB turned off her landline about 10 years ago and gave her a cell phone. It's been a non stop nightmare. She swears she's called me, but it's easy enough to see her call record and see she hasn't called me or anyone. Also, that people are calling her and she can't understand the messages.
A few weeks ago she was so mad (at me) for not answering my phone. I pulled out my cell and showed her all the calls I'd gotten in the last 2 weeks--nope, she has not called me. I said "same with out home line--mom, I KNOW you see me and suddenly realize you haven't spoken to me in months and you feel guilty--and I can't HELP that! I call YOU, you never answer and you don't listen to messages."
I don't think we are alone in this dynamic. While my 2 yo grandson can play video games on his mama's phone AND call me--my 90 yo mom can't even answer her phone.
I want her to have the landline reconnected. YB refuses to do so. (His control issues with mother are sick). So, since that won't happen, you can't call her and you can't talk to her unless you GO to her place and that is a huge pain.
I hope SOMEBODY has a simple phone that holds a charge for the day and is easy to use.
Grandpad by Consumer Cellular is about $50 a month right now with unlimited data. We are going to get one today. Very simple to use and you can do video calls plus easily send her messages in writing.
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Sigh.
Ain't nuthin' 'reliable' to give a 95 year old that I'm aware of. Or a 93 year old, for that matter.
She had phones in all the rooms of her small apartment, except the bathroom. I don't know why YB insists she use the cell phone. It is virtually impossible for her to use it at all. I personally think he does not want her talking to anyone he doesn't 'approve of'.
Esp during this lockdown--mother COULD be calling friends and chatting, but since she cannot operate her cell phone, it is just further isolating her.
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Also with a landline, if your senior needs to call 911 but can't talk [such as a stroke], the emergency dispatcher will see the senior's address on the dispatcher screen and send emergency out.
Mother bought the one that AARP suggested was the 'best for seniors' but she cannot work.
Srs often go SUPER cheap on a cellphone, but it's one thing you have to spend some coin on!!
YB turned off her landline about 10 years ago and gave her a cell phone. It's been a non stop nightmare. She swears she's called me, but it's easy enough to see her call record and see she hasn't called me or anyone. Also, that people are calling her and she can't understand the messages.
A few weeks ago she was so mad (at me) for not answering my phone. I pulled out my cell and showed her all the calls I'd gotten in the last 2 weeks--nope, she has not called me. I said "same with out home line--mom, I KNOW you see me and suddenly realize you haven't spoken to me in months and you feel guilty--and I can't HELP that! I call YOU, you never answer and you don't listen to messages."
I don't think we are alone in this dynamic. While my 2 yo grandson can play video games on his mama's phone AND call me--my 90 yo mom can't even answer her phone.
I want her to have the landline reconnected. YB refuses to do so. (His control issues with mother are sick). So, since that won't happen, you can't call her and you can't talk to her unless you GO to her place and that is a huge pain.
I hope SOMEBODY has a simple phone that holds a charge for the day and is easy to use.
I wish my mother had kept the landline too.